There's a new strain of the swine flu and the state Department of Health says four people in Pennsylvania have been infected.
The new strain is called H3N2 and is transferred from pigs to humans.
This new type of flu has infected at least four young adults who worked the Huntingdon County Fair.
The Department of Health has tested more than 10 people who worked at the fair which ended last week after they came in contact with pigs and later had flu-like symptoms.
At least four of those individuals tested positive for h3n2, or "swine flu."
The virus has recently infected people in Indiana and Ohio, mostly children after being at agricultural fairs.
Doctors suggest washing your hands after visiting areas with live animals to reduce the risk of getting the virus.
The Department of Health says that the cases reported are mild in nature - and that the flu does not spread from person-to-person.
"So far the illness that we've identified in these children has been very typical of what you would expect to see with flu,” stated Dr. Stephen Ostroff. “All of the cases have been relatively mild. We've seen no hospitalization and we've seen most importantly no evidence of spread from one person to another."
The Department of Health stresses that this flu is transferred from live pigs, handling or eating pork products present absolutely no risk of exposure to the flu.
In addition to the swine flu, the West Nile Virus has seen its biggest spike since 2004 in the U.S.
The federal government counts nearly 700 cases spread by infected mosquitoes, in 32 states this year alone.
So far Texas has been the hardest-hit state, with at least 16 deaths.
Here at home, we are dealing with our own human reports of West Nile. At this point, Lancaster. Lebanon and Franklin Counties have confirmed reports.
You can find more information about the virus by clicking on the related link.
The new strain is called H3N2 and is transferred from pigs to humans.
This new type of flu has infected at least four young adults who worked the Huntingdon County Fair.
The Department of Health has tested more than 10 people who worked at the fair which ended last week after they came in contact with pigs and later had flu-like symptoms.
At least four of those individuals tested positive for h3n2, or "swine flu."
The virus has recently infected people in Indiana and Ohio, mostly children after being at agricultural fairs.
Doctors suggest washing your hands after visiting areas with live animals to reduce the risk of getting the virus.
The Department of Health says that the cases reported are mild in nature - and that the flu does not spread from person-to-person.
"So far the illness that we've identified in these children has been very typical of what you would expect to see with flu,” stated Dr. Stephen Ostroff. “All of the cases have been relatively mild. We've seen no hospitalization and we've seen most importantly no evidence of spread from one person to another."
The Department of Health stresses that this flu is transferred from live pigs, handling or eating pork products present absolutely no risk of exposure to the flu.
In addition to the swine flu, the West Nile Virus has seen its biggest spike since 2004 in the U.S.
The federal government counts nearly 700 cases spread by infected mosquitoes, in 32 states this year alone.
So far Texas has been the hardest-hit state, with at least 16 deaths.
Here at home, we are dealing with our own human reports of West Nile. At this point, Lancaster. Lebanon and Franklin Counties have confirmed reports.
You can find more information about the virus by clicking on the related link.