Educating youth swine exhibitors on influenza A virus transmission at agricultural fairs.
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a major zoonotic pathogen that threatens global public health. Novel strains of influenza A viruses pose a significant risk to public health due to their pandemic potential, and transmission of influenza A viruses from animals to humans is an important mechanism in the generation and introduction of IAVs that threaten human health. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to develop real-life training scenarios to better inform swine exhibitors of the risks they may encounter when influenza A viruses are present in swine. Educational activities were implemented in five Ohio counties where exhibition swine had historically been shedding influenza A viruses during the county fair. A total of 146 youth swine exhibitors participated in the educational programme, and an increase in the knowledge base of these youth was documented. It is expected that educating youth exhibitors about exposure to influenza A virus infections in the swine they are exhibiting will result in altered behaviours and animal husbandry practices that will improve both human and animal health.
['Nolting|J M|JM|0000-0002-2705-4805', 'Midla|J|J|', 'Whittington|M S|MS|', 'Scheer|S D|SD|', 'Bowman|A S|AS|']
D000293:Adolescent D000383:Agriculture D000822:Animal Husbandry D000818:Animals D006266:Health Education D006801:Humans D009980:Influenza A virus D007251:Influenza, Human D009820:Ohio D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections D013552:Swine D013553:Swine Diseases D015047:Zoonoses
swine influenza A virus public health knowledge bases 4-H youth development agricultural education