Maine health officials are investigating an unusual case of swine influenza in a young child, the fifth reported case of a child infected in recent weeks. All have recovered.
Maine's state epidemiologist Stephen Sears says the H3N2 swine-origin strain of influenza was confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as being genetically similar to a strain identified earlier in three cases in Pennsylvania and one case in Indiana.
Maine health authorities say the 7- or 8-year-old boy from Cumberland County came down with flu-like symptoms in early October, not long after being exposed to pigs at an agricultural fair.
Sears said the boy was treated by his family doctor and is back up and playing. He said health experts don't expect the new strain to pose a widespread threat.
