State and county fairs aren't just places to eat deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies, or see incredible performances by Survivor and Air Supply.  Apparently, they're also a place to DIE.

Dr. Jeff Bender is a veterinarian at the University of Minnesota.  And he says you gotta be REALLY careful at fairs, because the pigs there just might give you SWINE FLU.  Even the blue ribbon-winning prize pigs aren't guaranteed to be disease free.  So far this year, more than 150 PEOPLE have contracted a new form of swine flu from pigs at state and county fairs.

The new form is called H3N2v.  It causes fevers, coughs, and other flu-type symptoms.  If you don't get it treated, like any disease, it can get worse.  Bender says if you do go to a fair, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before you eat anything.  And if you're with kids under five, pregnant women, or senior citizens, you should probably avoid being anywhere NEAR pigs. 


(Grand Forks Herald)