The Hancock County Fair is just getting underway in Findlay and organizers are advising visitors: don't pet the pigs.
That's because health officials say Ohio has nearly 100 confirmed human cases of a new swine flu strain. Many of those are linked to contact between people and hogs at fairs.
It is nap time for Katy Ann Graham's pigs.
"I have two pigs and I raise them because I live on a hog farm," says Graham.
Every year the 15-year-old from Arcadia shows and sells her livestock at the Hancock County Fair.
This year there is a special warning.
"Don't pet them," says Graham.
"Look at the pigs, enjoy the beautiful display they have here, but just don't touch the animals," says Dave Thomas, operations manager for the Hancock County Fair.
Thomas advises visitors to keep their hands off the hogs.
"This year with the H3N2 influenza we're just a little more precautious this year," says Thomas. "Just a little more information given out to the general public to make them feel at ease and at rest. It's just the common cold."
According to the state, people in nearly two dozen counties across Ohio contracted the mild virus. Quite of few of those were contracted at fairs.
"The only way that this is passed or you can get the H2N2 influenza is by actual contact with the animal," says Thomas.
There is hand sanitizer in all of the livestock barns, however, they added a few more near the pigs this year.
A state veterinarian inspected all 90 pigs and organizers are on the look-out for any symptoms.
"So far everything is clean, we've got a good group of hogs this year," says Thomas.
In lieu of the swine flu, 14-year-old Sarah Ball is taking extra special care of herself and her three hogs.
"I'm kind of precautious and try to use hand sanitizer more and go to the bathroom more and make sure everything is clean and everybody is safe here," says Ball.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:00:44 GMT
A late season frost was observed around the area on Saturday. Temperatures dropped down to 36 degrees which was cold enough for some patchy frost to develop in areas. The late season frost comes with a
Near record lows were recorded on Saturday one year after record highs were observed with highs in the low 90s.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:54:50 GMT
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common Pleas Court on Friday.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:49 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:49:22 GMT
The National Weather Service released an area map showing this past winter's snowfall. Most of the viewing area ended up between 5 to 20" below normal. Snow amounts were near normal for the southern part
The 2012-13 winter season ended warm, wet, with few big storms.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:22 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:22:43 GMT
While the month isn't over, we are on pace to have one of the driest Mays on record. The driest May on record was back in 1881 when only 0.45" of rain fell. So far May of 2013 has only recorded 0.63" of
May 2013 could come close to a record for the driest on record.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:03:53 GMT
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:03:53 GMT
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:00:44 GMT
A late season frost was observed around the area on Saturday. Temperatures dropped down to 36 degrees which was cold enough for some patchy frost to develop in areas. The late season frost comes with a
Near record lows were recorded on Saturday one year after record highs were observed with highs in the low 90s.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:54:50 GMT
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common Pleas Court on Friday.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:49 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:49:22 GMT
The National Weather Service released an area map showing this past winter's snowfall. Most of the viewing area ended up between 5 to 20" below normal. Snow amounts were near normal for the southern part
The 2012-13 winter season ended warm, wet, with few big storms.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:51 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:51:06 GMT
Frost Advisories are in effect, early on Saturday morning, for all of the 13abc viewing area, except for Paulding, Putnam, Allen and Hardin Counties, where temperatures will likely stay slightly milder.
Frost Advisories are in effect, early on Saturday morning, for all of the 13abc viewing area, except for Paulding, Putnam, Allen and Hardin Counties, where temperatures will likely stay slightly milder.
Friday, May 24 2013 8:56 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:56:34 GMT
A man who was held at gunpoint after trying to break into a home has been indicted. A grand jury indicted Kyle Caldwell on one count of attempt to commit burglary. Police say he tried to break into a
A man who was held at gunpoint after trying to break into a home has been indicted. A grand jury indicted Kyle Caldwell on one count of attempt to commit burglary.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:16 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:16:18 GMT
Bowling Green Police have issued a warrant for a Toledo man wanted for robbery. Jesse Bays, 26, was identified after police released surveillance images and got a tip that helped ID him. Officials say
Bowling Green Police have issued a warrant for a Toledo man wanted for robbery. Jesse Bays, 26, was identified after police released surveillance images and got a tip that helped ID him.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:04:46 GMT
There are new details in the cat killing controversy in Stryker that we first told you about in March. Stryker Police Chief Steve Schlosser pleaded no contest to animal cruelty in Bryan Municipal Court
A judge found Chief Steve Schlosser guilty and sentenced him to pay a $500 fine, plus court costs. It all stems from a stray cat killing controversy 13abc first reported in March.
Friday, May 24 2013 4:27 PM EDT2013-05-24 20:27:22 GMT
Toledo police need your help identifying some robbery suspects. Police say someone broke into the Eastgate Carryout on May 11. They released surveillance images of the people believed to be responsible,
Toledo police need your help identifying some robbery suspects. Police say someone broke into the Eastgate Carryout on May 11. They released surveillance images of the people believed to be responsible, as well as the vehicle they were driving.
Friday, May 24 2013 4:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 20:04:26 GMT
Two Toledo children have been missing since Sunday. According to police, 14-year-old Rochelle White and 15-year-old Zachery White ran away from home. The children's mother reported them missing May 20. If
Two Toledo children have been missing since Sunday. According to police, 14-year-old Rochelle White and 15-year-old Zachary White ran away from home. The children's mother reported them missing May 20.
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