Maine agriculture chief recovering in Florida

AUGUSTA – State Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear’s condition has improved in the week since he took ill during a trade mission in Cuba and was flown to the United States from the island, a Baldacci administration spokesman said Thursday.

“He’s much improved,” said Lynn Kippax, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci. Spear’s condition improved from critical last week to fair as of Thursday. Spear was conscious, alert and has been talking, Kippax said.

An air ambulance transported Spear from Havana to Florida last Friday after he was stricken by septic shock while leading an agricultural trade mission. An infection developed from a wound where he had had warts removed, Kippax said.

The spokesman said Spear is no longer under intensive care, but it could be a couple of weeks before he is well enough to fly back to Maine.