County Fair, Wisconsin

MMWR Weekly (November, 1988) reported that in September, 1988, a human was fatally infected with swine influenza virus in Wisconsin.  A subsequent investigation found that the victim, a woman, had attended a county fair and visited the display area of the pig barn. Statements from the veterinarians at the fair indicated that pigs in the display area were found to show an illness consistent with swine influenza.  A preliminary investigation found that there was no outbreak of influenza-like illness observed in the surrounding areas. Three healthcare personnel treating the case patient also developed influenza-like illness with laboratory evidence of Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) infection (Wells et al., 1991)

The editorial note contained in the MMWR Weekly report indicated that the case suggested direct transmission of influenza virus from pig to human host.