All Cases Are Mild And Recovering At Home

TORONTO - Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, says there are 17 new confirmed cases of H1N1 flu virus (human swine flu), bringing the total number of cases in Ontario to 31.

Laboratory testing has confirmed that the H1N1 flu virus is the same as the one in Mexico and the United States.

Today's overall case total is 31 because two of the 16 confirmed cases reported Sunday now are being reassessed.

The 17 new cases are in Durham, Simcoe Muskoka, Toronto, York, Peel, Windsor-Essex, Oxford and Sudbury and District. All of the cases to date are considered mild.

The breakdown of the Ontario cases is as follows: - Eleven men and 20 women

- Nine are in Toronto, seven in York, six in Durham, four in Windsor- Essex, two in Peel, and one each in Oxford, Simcoe-Muskoka and Sudbury and District.

- The age range of the cases is 4 - 50.

"As expected, there has been a large increase in the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus and we look for the case total to continue to rise as daily testing increases. Ontarians should continue to protect themselves and those around them by washing hands frequently, coughing or sneezing into your sleeve, and staying at home if they're sick." - Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health.

"Our health care system is fully prepared to respond to the H1N1 flu virus. I trust Ontarians will continue to follow the advice of our public health officials on what they need to do to stay healthy and reduce the spread of the virus." - David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.