Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana State Fair dismissed all the animals from the Swine Barn on Monday after six pigs showed potential signs of illness.
State fair officials said the Board of Animal Health recommended the dismissal after six pigs in the 4-H show developed temperatures over 105 degrees.
The move comes after the Indiana Department of Health last week confirmed six more cases of human flu linked to hogs, bringing the total number to 11.
"We consider this decision to be very prudent in light of what we have seen during the last several weeks at county fairs all over Indiana, as well as in other states," said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh. "We've had an unusually high number of reports of illness associated with swine shows this season. Overall, the swine at the state fair this year have done well, and dispersing the hogs as soon as possible is the best thing that can be done for animal health."
There have been no cases of human illness at the Indiana State Fair.
Samples from the hogs sent home have been submitted to the Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, state fair officials said.
About a dozen swine will remain at the barn for the rest of the fair, including various champions, the popular mom and her piglets and the World's Largest Male Hog.
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