A baby who recently returned from the United States to Gifu Prefecture in Japan is suspected of being infected with the new type of influenza, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.

The baby has preliminarily tested negative for both the influenza A and B viruses but has a fever and other flu symptoms, Kyodo quoted the Gifu prefectural government as saying.

As a result, a further test is being conducted to confirm whether the baby is infected with the new strain of the H1N1 influenza A virus which is rapidly spreading around the world, the local government said.

Japan has already cleared several suspected cases of A/H1N1 virus and yet to report any confirmed infection.