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4 more swine flu cases in Ontario
All of the Ont. cases are in the Toronto area
Last Updated: Friday, May 1, 2009 | 9:53 PM ET
Ontario health officials confirmed four more cases of swine flu in Ontario Friday, but said that an increase in reported cases was expected because of a rise in vigilance across the province.
Twelve cases of swine flu have now been confirmed ? all of them mild, all of them reported in theToronto area.
Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said that the number of confirmed cases is growing exponentially because more lab tests are being conducted.
"With the amount of lab testing going on as people who have taken the responsibility of reporting to their family doctor are coming forward, we're getting a lot more testing being done," he said.
Canada's total is now 55, with 19 cases reported in British Columbia, 14 in Nova Scotia, eight in Alberta, one each in Quebec and New Brunswick to go along with Ontario's count.
Many of the cases still being investigated will return negative results for swine flu, said Williams, but the number of confirmed cases will continue to grow in specific areas.
"Those provinces like B.C. and Ontario, who have incorporated the testing in the province, will be able to move a bit quicker on the numbers than some of the smaller ones," he said.
Williams warned that when looking at smaller centres, residents should take that delay into consideration.
All of the cases reported in Canada are still considered mild, said Williams, unlike some of those that have been reported in Mexico.
"We are continuing to monitor the situation, do assessments of all our data to analyze that, do all our tracing of all the cases and contacts to see other transmissions occurring," said Williams.
Ontario's health officials haven't seen any evidence of the virus moving rapidly from person to person, but that they're continuing to investigate and gather data.
During Friday's afternoon press conference, Williams reminded Ontario residents that hand washing and general etiquette around signs and symptoms of influenza should be followed.
Anyone with symptoms, he said, should stay home, but anyone without symptoms should continue to attend work, school and activities within their communities.
All of the Ont. cases are in the Toronto area
Last Updated: Friday, May 1, 2009 | 9:53 PM ET
Ontario health officials confirmed four more cases of swine flu in Ontario Friday, but said that an increase in reported cases was expected because of a rise in vigilance across the province.
Twelve cases of swine flu have now been confirmed ? all of them mild, all of them reported in theToronto area.
Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said that the number of confirmed cases is growing exponentially because more lab tests are being conducted.
"With the amount of lab testing going on as people who have taken the responsibility of reporting to their family doctor are coming forward, we're getting a lot more testing being done," he said.
Canada's total is now 55, with 19 cases reported in British Columbia, 14 in Nova Scotia, eight in Alberta, one each in Quebec and New Brunswick to go along with Ontario's count.
Many of the cases still being investigated will return negative results for swine flu, said Williams, but the number of confirmed cases will continue to grow in specific areas.
"Those provinces like B.C. and Ontario, who have incorporated the testing in the province, will be able to move a bit quicker on the numbers than some of the smaller ones," he said.
Williams warned that when looking at smaller centres, residents should take that delay into consideration.
All of the cases reported in Canada are still considered mild, said Williams, unlike some of those that have been reported in Mexico.
"We are continuing to monitor the situation, do assessments of all our data to analyze that, do all our tracing of all the cases and contacts to see other transmissions occurring," said Williams.
Ontario's health officials haven't seen any evidence of the virus moving rapidly from person to person, but that they're continuing to investigate and gather data.
During Friday's afternoon press conference, Williams reminded Ontario residents that hand washing and general etiquette around signs and symptoms of influenza should be followed.
Anyone with symptoms, he said, should stay home, but anyone without symptoms should continue to attend work, school and activities within their communities.