POINT PLEASANT, West Virginia -
The three swine flu cases are children under 18.
All three live in Mason County, but officials said they got swine flu from the Gallia County, Ohio, Fair which is across the river from Mason County.
"What we've seen is people that have been exposed at the Gallia County Fair contracted the virus. All of these people had some type of contact in the pig or swine area," said Mason County Health Officer Dr. Curtis Pack.
Dr. Pack said pigs at the Mason County Fair showed no signs of swine flu. The Mason County Fair followed the Gallia County Fair.
"I think any type of flu is scary especially if you have little ones and for the elderly. Just flu itself sounds scary," said Julie Benson of Mason County.
As the season progresses health officials are expecting to identify even more cases of swine flu as efforts to identify the virus increase
"We have a specialist who follows disease processes. What they develop is a line going from person to person to person and they track the progress of the disease," said Dr. Pack.
He adds the virus is showing no signs of human-to-human spread. It's spread from pig-to-pig.
"I just feel like everybody needs to take the right precautions. The hand washing seems to be the best protection," said Kathryn Wamsley of Henderson.
Most cases have been mild, but some have been hospitalized for swine flu. No fatalities have been reported.
For more information on swine flu and the H3N2 virus:
http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/influenza-variant-viruses-h3n2v.htm
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