The Michigan State Fair is renewing livestock biosecurity measures ahead of Labor Day weekend after swine flu was detected at the Kent County Fair.
L.C. Scramlin, the State Fair's livestock and agriculture director and general manager of the Oakland County Fair, said the Kent County case prompted Michigan fairs to revisit their protocols.
Scramlin also serves as chairman of the animal health committee for the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. He said the state association was contacted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development after swine flu was confirmed at the Kent County Fair.
“We had one case at Kent County Fair, and so then all of us and I know now kicking in, of course, with my fair is done, but the state fair and is coming up, so we of course have actually discussed and went back through the protocols that we actually used to, and we've actually had them in place,” Scramlin said.
Scramlin said the State Fair has an advantage over many county fairs because the Vibe Credit Union Showplace is not regularly used for livestock events.
The State Fair's equipment is brought out of storage, set up and disinfected before animals arrive.
“We go through a disinfectant procedure, even though it hasn't been exposed to animals, it has been in storage and not been used,” Scramlin said.
A licensed veterinarian will be on duty at the State Fair to observe livestock as they arrive and throughout the event.
“We do have a veterinarian that will be there to check animals in,” Scramlin said.
Scramlin said pigs are not routinely tested when they arrive. Instead, the veterinarian and exhibitors watch for signs of illness, including animals that appear less active than normal or refuse to eat.
“An exhibitor or a veterinarian can tell quite easily when those pigs are not their normal active, and especially then they refuse to go off feed and don't eat, and it becomes very noticeable then,” he said.
If a pig shows signs of illness, its temperature is checked immediately. Scramlin said an elevated temperature is an important indicator.
Animals that need further observation are moved to an isolation area.
“They are immediately put in. What we have is a fairly large complex down at Vibe, so they will be loaded on a trailer and taken to an isolation area,” Scramlin said.
The animals are monitored for about 12 hours to determine whether an elevated temperature continues. If concerns remain, Scramlin said the animals can be sent home and the state Department of Agriculture notified.
He said testing can take about 24 hours.
Scramlin said the stress of travel and being in an exhibition environment can contribute to outbreaks occurring after animals arrive at a fair.
“Truly the ones like in Kent County, they usually the outbreaks do take place after they've arrived and put under the stress of traveling and and being on an exhibition,” he said.
Biosecurity measures also apply to people who handle the animals. Scramlin said exhibitors are reminded to wash their hands after handling pigs and maintain good hygiene.
He said fair officials also try to limit fairgoers' contact with pigs because visitors may not have the same level of exposure to swine as exhibitors.
“We do try to limit that as much as possible,” Scramlin said.
Scramlin said staff will be in the livestock building around the clock to protect the animals and monitor biosecurity.
“We actually have guards that are in the building 24 hours a day to make sure that no one, you know, just protect the animals and for worrying about biosecurity that they're never left alone in the facility 24 hours a day,” he said.
Despite the Kent County case, Scramlin encouraged people to attend the State Fair and learn more about Michigan agriculture.
“We just encourage people to come and talk with exhibitors, learn where their food comes from, and still enjoy the educational and fun aspect of the Michigan State Fair,” he said.
The Michigan State Fair is scheduled for Labor Day weekend at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi.