COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Officials say two children became ill with a new version of the flu virus after being in contact with infected pigs at a west-central Ohio county fair.

Ohio’s health and agriculture departments said Friday neither child was hospitalized. The flu is known as a variant of H3N2, which normally circulates in swine. Its symptoms are similar to seasonal flu viruses. Person-to-person spread is rare.

The state says both children got the virus while at the Clark County Fair in late July.

The cases come at the height of county fair season in Ohio.

State agriculture and health officials are stressing the importance of handwashing to fairgoers who come into contact with swine.

Ohio’s agriculture department plans to hold a conference call Monday with fair boards to emphasize such precautions.