HEALTH
Ionia County resident has swine flu after exhibiting at youth fair
Kristen Jordan ShamusDetroit Free Press
Aug. 14, 2026, 10:26 p.m. ET
- After multiple pigs were sick with swine flu at the Kent County Youth Fair in Lowell, Michigan health officials warned people exposed to the pigs to monitor for symptoms and report illness.
- On Friday, Aug. 14, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported that an Ionia County resident now has a confirmed case of the H1N2 variant of the influenza A swine flu virus.
- A spokesperson for the Kent County Health Department said more than a dozen people have reported illness after attending the fair and have agreed to testing.
An Ionia County resident who exhibited pigs earlier this month at the Kent County Youth Fair now has a confirmed case of swine flu, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported on the evening of Friday, Aug. 14
The person initially was tested by the state Bureau of Laboratories and a diagnosis of an influenza A H1N2 variant was confirmed Aug. 14 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Several of the swine were sick and at least one pig died suddenly at the fair, which took place Aug. 3-8 at the Grand Agricultural Center of West Michigan in Lowell, said Jennifer Holton, chief crisis communications director for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
As soon as pigs showed symptoms of illness, fair leaders closed the swine barn to the public, Holton said. Sick hogs were transported off site to isolate them and protect the healthy pigs
Since then, more than a dozen people who attended the fair have reported flu-like symptoms and have agreed to undergo testing, said Christina Anthony, a spokesperson for the Kent County Health Department
She explained that it can take several days to confirm swine flu cases because samples must be collected from the people who have symptoms, then sent to the state health department’s Bureau of Labs. If the initial tests show positive results for either H1 or H3 variants of the influenza A virus, they are sent to the CDC for confirmatory testing as swine flu
“While the risk to the general public remains low, we want visitors who attended the Kent County Youth Fair to be alert to symptoms and take appropriate precautions,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, in a statement. “Anyone who develops flu‑like symptoms after possible exposure should contact their health care provider and let them know about their recent contact with pigs at the fair. Individuals who are sick should stay home until they have fully recovered.”
Swine flu includes several variants of the influenza A virus that most commonly spreads among pigs but sometimes can infect humans and birds, too
Although the pig that died was not tested for swine flu, other symptomatic hogs at the fairgrounds, including those with fevers of 105 degrees or higher, were tested by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Those tests were positive for swine flu, Holton said
Both Kent County and state health officials say they have been reaching out to swine exhibitors at the fair and to their families to identify people who may have been exposed to influenza from infected pigs. In addition, the Kent County Health Department has alerted health care providers to watch for patients who report respiratory symptoms and had exposure to pigs or visited the fair
“It’s not unusual for flu viruses to occur in pigs, and while rare, those flu viruses can be transmitted to people by sick pigs,” Dr. Nora Wineland, the state veterinarian for MDARD, said in a statement
“MDARD encourages exhibitors to follow disease prevention practices and work with their veterinarian if they suspect illness in an animal. It is still safe to enjoy your local fair, and visitors are encouraged to follow simple hygiene practices to help keep both people and animals healthy.”
How does swine flu spread?
Swine flu most often spreads among pigs and leaps to humans with close contact — mainly through droplets when infected pigs cough and sneeze
People have been infected following exposure to sick animals at agricultural fairs in the past when those droplets land in a person’s nose or mouth or if they are inhaled. People cannot get swine influenza from eating properly prepared pork or handling pork products
In 2023, a Lapeer County child and a Tuscola County resident were the first people in the United States that year to be infected with swine flu after being exposed to sick pigs at the Oakland County Fair and the Tuscola County Fair
Swine flu strains also have been known to reassort, emerging as new variants that are more easily transmissible among humans. That happened in 2009, during the global H1N1 swine flu pandemic. The CDC estimated that 60.8 million people in the United States contracted swine flu between April 2009 and April 2010, causing 274,304 hospitalizations and 12,469 deaths
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those caused by other seasonal flu viruses, according to the Kent County Health Department. Symptoms typically appear between one and 10 days after exposure and can include:
- Fever.
- Lethargy (tiredness).
- Lack of appetite.
- Coughing.
- Runny nose.
- Sore throat.
- Eye irritation.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
“Anyone who develops flulike symptoms after having contact with pigs at the fair should contact the Kent County Health Department and let their health care provider know about their exposure,” said Dr. Adam London, the county’s health officer
Testing can be arranged through the Kent County Health Department’s communicable disease unit by calling 616-632-7228
Who’s at high risk if they get swine flu?
Variant influenza infections, including the influenza A H1N2 swine flu variant, can sometimes cause severe disease, even in healthy people, MDHHS reported
Severe illness can include such complications as pneumonia, which may lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. People who are at highest risk of developing complications if they contract a variant influenza infection include:
- Children younger than 5 years of age.
- People 65 years of age and older.
- Pregnant people.
- People with certain health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Prescription antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza are effective in treating swine flu. Early treatment works best and may be especially important for people with a high-risk condition. There is no human vaccine for swine flu
How can I avoid getting sick?
Attending swine exhibits at agricultural fairs can increase your risk because pigs from different places come into close contact with one another and with people, the CDC says
State health officials urge the public to take the following precautions when they visit farms, fairs and exhibits:
- Do not eat or drink 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 should avoid contact with pigs and swine barns when attending a fair.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often before and after contact with pigs and other livestock. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- If you develop symptoms after exposure to pigs, seek treatment. Antiviral drugs used to help people recover from human strains of the virus are also effective against swine flu.
- Change and wash clothing and clean footwear or equipment after visiting animal areas, particularly if you have livestock at home.
- If you must come in contact with animals that may be ill at a fair, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and a well-fitting mask that covers your mouth and nose.
- Stay home and away from others, including animals, if you are experiencing flulike symptoms
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press
