Toronto has its first confirmed case of H1N1 flu, bringing Ontario's total to eight cases so far.
Dr. David Williams, the province's chief medical officer of health, told a Thursday news conference in Toronto that all of the cases trace back so far to people who have travelled to Mexico.
All the cases are of the mild variety. No one ill in Ontario has required hospital care.
Williams said the only person-to-person spread within Canada appears to have occurred in Nova Scotia.
Four GTA cases were reported Tuesday, with three more on Wednesday. The invididuals in those previous cases are from Durham, York and Peel regions. Six women and two men have been diagnosed so far.
Reporters were interested in asking about the case of three young women from Port Perry who returned from Mexico, were told they did not have swine flu -- and then found out they actually did.
In the meantime, they were out and about in the community. The mother of one young woman operates a daycare centre in her home. One went to a casino.
"We are satisfied they performed their duties as they were supposed to do," Williams said of the local public health officials.
People who have a travel history under these circumstances should do some "self-monitoring," he said.
One Port Perry family said health officials gave them inadequate information.
Williams said he can't comment on an individual case, only on how the system is performing.
The three Port Perry women were on the same flight home. Williams said on a plane flight from Mexico, anyone could have been infected on the ground, rather than on the flight.
What to do
Health officials have the following advice for people to avoid spreading any flu-like virus:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people
- Stay home from work or school and limit contact with others if you get sick
Those Ontarians who have general questions about swine flu can call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-800-476-9708.
If someone has flu-like symptoms and believe they may have swine flu, they should call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.
National, global developments
There are 34 confirmed H1N1 cases across Canada, including the first confirmed case in Quebec.
The new figure represents a jump of 15 over Wednesday, when 19 cases were reported. Besides Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia, H1N1 has also been confirmed in B.C. and Alberta.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a news conference that governments are doing what they can to respond to the outbreak and advised people to comply with the directives from health officials.
"We are all very concerned about the situation," he said. "At the same time, people should rest assured that governments around the world are responding to this in an appropriate and co-ordinated way."
In Mexico, where the outbreak started, the government said there are 260 confirmed cases and 12 deaths. The suspected cases and deaths are 2,500 and 168 respectively. However, Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said he will stop giving an updated count of suspected cases and deaths.
The World Health Organization announced Wednesday it has put its influenza pandemic alert at phase 5, which is just below a full pandemic declaration.
Globally, 11 countries have officially reported 257 H1N1 cases, it said Thursday. However, it gave Canada's count as 19, which is out of date. It also gave Mexico's death toll as seven, which is also out of date.
The WHO did say it would start referring to the virus as the H1N1 virus to avoid stigmatizing the world's pork industry.
People cannot get H1N1 flu from eating pork.
Canada will be following the WHO's lead on the name change. However, some scientists have complained, saying the move will only cause confusion for the public.
With files from The Canadian Press
