Two people in Michigan are infected with SWINE FLU after attending county fairs, CDC reveals

Two people in Michigan have been diagnosed with swine flu after attending county fairs, health officials confirmed today.

The patients – whose infections are not linked to one another – caught different strains at separate agricultural fairs last month, where they were exposed to infected pigs.

Both sufferers – whose identities have not been revealed – experienced mild illness, and there is no sign they spread it to other people. 

But the infections come amid an unprecedented influenza outbreak in animals.

The patients contracted different strains at separate agricultural fairs last month, where they were exposed to infected pigs

The first person caught  

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services first reported a positive test of swine flu A(H3) variant on July 26 in a person who attended a fair that took place between July 7-16.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tested a sample from the patient which came back inconclusive, which it said was likely due to the sample not containing enough virus.

Neither patient required hospitalization, and both were treated with flu antivirals. They are now recovering.

The CDC advised people to take general precautions to limit the spread of swine flu, including not eating or drinking while pigs are present, avoiding contact with pigs that appear sick, and washing hands with soap and water before and after contact with pigs.

Flu viruses can spread from pigs to people and vice versa. 

Swine flu surges in pigs around the fall months, raising the risk of the disease spilling over into humans.

People who become infected tend to suffer similar symptoms to seasonal flu, including fever, cough, runny nose and body aches.

But cases are normally mild and clear up on their own in a few weeks. There is little risk of death.

Scientists say, however, that children under five, people over 65, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions are more at risk of complications if they become infected.