Swine flu case involving Lapeer County resident traced to Oakland County Fair

LAPEER, MI – A presumptive positive human case of influenza A H3 variant, otherwise known as swine flu, has been detected in a Lapeer County resident who was at the Oakland County Fair.

A respiratory specimen that tested presumptive positive for swine flu will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The fair took place from July 7 to July 16 at the Springfield Oaks County Park in Davisburg. State health officials issued a notice on July 18 after swine flu was detected in several pigs four days earlier. That information led to the swine barn began closed to the public that evening.

Related: Swine flu detected in several pigs at Oakland County Fair

“Visitors of the Oakland County Fair should monitor for flu-like symptoms: fever, respiratory symptoms like cough and runny nose, and body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “If you believe you may have the flu, contact your health care provider and stay home until you have recovered.”

Oakland County Health Division is currently reaching out to swine exhibitors who participated in the fair and could have been exposed to influenza from the infected pigs.

The spread of swine flu viruses from pig to person is suspected to happen in the same way that human flu viruses spread – through droplets that enter the atmosphere when infected pigs cough or sneeze.

Symptoms of variant influenza infection are similar to seasonal flu viruses as well, including fever and respiratory symptoms, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

MDHHS provided a list of steps to take to protect yourself from illness:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Refrain from eating or drinking in livestock barns or show rings.
• Do not take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items into pig areas.
• Anyone who is at high risk of serious flu complications and planning to attend a fair should avoid pigs and swine barns.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• If you are sick, stay home from work or school until your illness is over.
• Avoid contact with pigs if you have flu-like symptoms. Wait seven days after your illness started or until you have been without fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, whichever is longer.
• Get an annual influenza vaccination.

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