As a new pig show season fires up in many parts of the country, the last thing anyone wants is to get left out of the fun of evaluating livestock and chasing banners because of a case of influenza.
With the recent spread of Influenza A [H5N1], it’s even more important to do your part to protect your pigs and yourself when you are at the shows.
“During show season, we must do everything possible to prevent the spread of influenza and other viruses,” says Cora Key, National Swine Registry event and education manager. “There are many ways we work to keep the barns healthy. We ask our exhibitors to show up with a clean soul, but even cleaner boots to join our effort of protecting the industry that we all love.”
The Realities of Influenza
Influenza A viruses are common in people, just like they are pigs. Influenza viruses are constantly changing and reassorting.
“The threat of influenza virus infection in people and pigs is ever present. It’s why healthcare providers recommend people get annual influenza vaccines to prevent against new strains of the virus that are emerging all the time,” says Dusty Oedekoven, National Pork Board chief veterinarian.
Although the H5N1 outbreaks don’t represent an elevated threat, he points out that it’s a reminder of the threat we always know is there.
“Influenza viruses exist and circulate in people all the time,” Oedekoven says.
That’s why good sanitation and hygiene are important when we are around our pigs. It’s also why education and awareness of the elevated risk shows can present for our pigs is important.
Influenza can be spread when infected pigs or people cough or sneeze. This can happen in a variety of settings, especially at shows where pigs from many places come in close contact with each other and with people.
To protect those most likely to get infected and develop serious illness, health officials recommend exhibitors (and their friends or family) take the following actions to help prevent the spread of flu between pigs and people.
6 Tips to Prevent the Spread of Flu
Here are six tips to help prevent the spread of flu between pigs and people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home to avoid spreading your illness.
• Watch your pigs closely at the fair for illness (loss of appetite, cough or runny nose). Call a veterinarian if you suspect illness.
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water before and after exposure to pigs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, bottles, strollers, or similar items into the pig barn and show arenas. Avoid eating in the barns.
• Isolate your pigs when you return home. Seven days’ downtime at home is necessary for pigs to get over shedding influenza virus.
• Clean and disinfect any equipment brought back home from the show.
Who’s Most at Risk?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the people who are at high risk for serious complications from flu, including variant flu viruses, include children younger than five years old, people with certain long-term health conditions like asthma and other lung diseases, weakened immune systems, neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as pregnant women and people 65 years and older.
If You Get Sick
Flu symptoms usually include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. If you are at high risk and you get flu symptoms, call a health care provider. Tell them about your high-risk factor and your symptoms. If you have had recent exposure to pigs, tell them about that, too.
If you are not at high risk and you get flu symptoms after exposure to pigs, seek medical care as you normally would. A health care provider can decide whether influenza testing, or treatment is needed.
Influenza antiviral drugs can treat variant virus infections as well as seasonal flu illness in people. These drugs work better the sooner you start them, so seek medical treatment promptly if you get symptoms and are at high risk.
For more information, visit the CDC’s website. The CDC also compiled a tips sheet for fair organizers.
Read More:
Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Piecing the Puzzle Together: Diagnostic Monitoring and Flu Prevention
