Second Case of New Flu Strain Confirmed

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota health officials say another case of a new flu strain linked to an animal market in Dakota County has been confirmed.

The Department of Health says a man in his 20s came down with flu symptoms after buying a pig at the market Aug. 17.

Health officials say the latest Minnesota case is the third to occur in a state resident who had visited an animal market. Minnesota had previously recorded one confirmed and one probable case in children whose family had been to a market.

Nationwide, 277 cases of the flu strain have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since July, 13 people have been hospitalized. All have since recovered.

Deputy State Epidemiologist Richard Danila says the flu strain isn't easily passed from one person to another.

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