WAUSEON, OH (Toledo News Now) - A new swine flu strain has claimed the life of a 61 year old Ohio woman, the first in the state.
The Ohio Department of Health says the victim died after coming in contact with hogs at the Ross County Fair.
The Ohio Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports Ohio has had 101 cases of swine flu, all tied to county fair visits.
Indiana leads the nation with 138 cases.
All this is why Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey of the Ohio Department of Agriculture made a stop Saturday at the Fulton County Fair in Wauseon.
"It's a very mild flu. 24-48 hours maximum. Not nearly as bad as seasonal flu we see during the fall and winter," said Dr. Forshey.
Fulton County's fair is the second largest in Ohio.
270,000 visitors are expected.
Dr. Forshey urges kids under the age of five years old, pregnant women and the elderly to stay away from the swine bar.
"Anybody that has a suppressed immune system should stay away from the barns," said Dr. Forshey.
But to be on the safe side, there are special sanitary precautions during fair week.
The swine are inspected before entering the fairgrounds.
The swine barn has been disinfected.
Visitors are encouraged to wash their hands before entering and after leaving the barn.
"It's there. Different from H1N1 we had in 2009. It's was a tougher bug. Make people sick. This is much milder," said Dr. Forshey.
Mild but still a concern.
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Twelve people across the country were infected last year compared to 289 this year.
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