Pigs in Minnesota may have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, the first potential cases in U.S. swine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced.

In its news release, the USDA says it is running tests to confirm the initial results. Samples were taken from pigs at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1. The animals were apparently healthy and showed no signs of illness.

Results are expected in several days, the USDA says.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminded people that they cannot get the virus from eating pork.

The news release continues: "An outbreak of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza occurred in a group of children housed in a dormitory at the fair at the same time samples were collected from the pigs, but no direct link to the pigs has been made. Information available at this time would suggest the children were not sickened by contact with the fair pigs."

More here about the H1N1 virus.