USDA tests pigs for H1N1 at Minnesota State Fair

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Friday it was testing for the H1N1 flu virus in samples from hogs at the Minnesota State Fair, where there was an outbreak of the flu among teenagers in a dormitory.

There is "no direct link" between the outbreak and the hogs, said USDA. "Information available at this time would suggest the children were not sickened by contact with the fair pigs."

Fair officials sent 120 teens home on September 3 after four of them were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The teens were members of a 4-H performing arts group.

USDA said it appeared some of the children handling the swine were showing signs of the flu.

The hogs appeared healthy when the samples were collected from August 26 through September 1 as part of a research project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The project documents flu viruses in settings, such as fairs, where people and hogs are present.

Results of the tests on the hog samples could be available as early as Saturday, said a USDA source. He said officials were looking at samples from two hogs, which probably were sent to market after the fair.

"I don't think there should be any repercussions after or additional tests or trace or anything regardless of the results," said the source.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "I want to remind people that people cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products."

According to the World Health Organization, fewer than 5,000 people have died from H1N1, also known as swine flu, this year. WHO said influenza activity in the Northern Hemisphere was much higher than usual.

Most people who catch the H1N1 virus suffer mild symptoms.

But in contrast to seasonal flu strains which can be serious for elderly people, H1N1 can turn dangerous for some people with existing health conditions or otherwise healthy young adults.

(Reporting by Charles Abbott and Christopher Doering; Editing by Christian Wiessner)