4-H youth, staff member contract H1N1 flu, sent home from Minnesota State Fair
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Minnesota 4-H officials are sending 120 youths home from the State Fair after some came down with the H1N1 swine flu.4-H youth, staff member contract H1N1 fluIn all, 14 4-Hers went home sick, but not all were tested.
About 120 more 4-H members were sent home because they stayed in a fair dormitory with those who became ill.
Health and fair officials said the public is in no increased danger and should not avoid the fair.
Health Commissioner Sanne Magnan said the fair and 4-H leaders did the right thing in sending home the youths, 14 to 19 years old. She said similar situations will play out as Minnesota schools begin fall classes.
4-H officials began noticing some members from different parts of the state fell ill Tuesday night. But it was early Thursday before any H1N1 cases were confirmed.
State 4-H program leader Dorothy Freeman said the sick youths immediately were sent home. Others in contact with them were isolated, and were to head home later in the day.
John Stine of the Minnesota Health Department said fair officials did a good job with hygiene, but the flu still can spread.
The flu, which is spreading worldwide, affects young people more than older ones. None of the 4-H members were thought to be seriously ill.
Don Davis works for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Bemidji Pioneer.
