Ontario's tally of H1N1 flu cases has crept upward by seven, with all cases continued to be mild. Three of those new cases are in Toronto.

In the last two days, total confirmed cases jumped by 30.

The total number of cases in Ontario now totals 56, with an updated national number expected later Thursday afternoon. Nationally, there are 214 confirmed cases.

Dr. David Williams, the province's acting chief medical officer of health, told a news conference in Toronto, that about 2,800 samples have come in from the province's doctors.

While more confirmed cases are likely to emerge, the small number of people currently going to Mexico should reduce the number of potential cases in the coming weeks, he said.

Of the 56 confirmed cases so far, 37 have a definite travel history of going to Mexico with another 12 confirmed to have acquired the virus in Ontario, Williams said. The remaining cases require further investigation.

The geographic distribution of the cases is as follows:

  • Toronto - 15 (+3)
  • York region - 11 (+2)
  • Durham region - 7
  • Peel region - 7 (+1)
  • Windsor-Essex - 5
  • Simcoe-Muskoka - 2
  • Sudbury and district - 3 (+1)
  • Halton - 2
  • Oxford Country - 1
  • Ottawa - 2
  • Middlesex-London - 1

Twenty-five of the patients are males, 30 are females (information hasn't come in yet on one case). The age range is 3 to 52.

Ontario typically sees 9,000 cases of seasonal flu per years with approximately 500 deaths resulting.

Hospital worker, two students infected

A second student has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board wouldn't say where the student goes to school.

Another high school student, who has since recovered, along with a hospital worker, are among the 15 Torontonians who have caught the virus.

The first high school student is a female Grade 12 student at Archbishop Romero Catholic Secondary School in the Weston Road and Rogers Road area.

She came down with the flu while away from school.

The student has been allowed to return to school and was not in Mexico recently.

"They do a blood test, and then it's either confirmed or not," the Catholic board's Geoff Grant told CTV Toronto. "I guess  Public Health then spoke to the family, and then when she's ready to come back and cleared, she's ready to come back."

Trustee Rob Davis added: "My understanding is the student did not travel to Mexico and didn't have anyone in her family who travelled to Mexico, so she may have contracted the flu in any number of ways."

Emmy Milne, supervisor of communications for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, said the school will be sending a letter home to parents.

"There's a communication going home to the community, just to confirm that we do have a diagnosed case at that school and that the student is well," Milne said.

"We are reiterating the standard messages from Toronto Public Health, the standard infection control measures such as frequent hand washing, proper cough etiquette.

"We are also reminding them that if they are not well that they should stay home. That applies to staff, students, parents, everybody."

So far, there are no indications that any other students have contracted the flu.

The student also worked at a No Frills grocery store near Dufferin and Bloor Streets, but management said she hasn't been to work in at least 10 days.

A public health official told CTV Toronto that co-workers and customers have nothing to worry about.

At Princess Margaret Hospital, authorities confirmed that a hospital worker, who was not providing care to patients, had also fallen ill with H1N1 flu.

Hospital spokesperson Gillian Howard said officials are evaluating who may have had contact with the ill worker.

Like the high school student who fell ill with the H1N1 flu, the infected hospital worker had no link to Mexico.

Howard said hospital workers have been told to stay home if they have any H1N1 symptoms, and to report their symptoms to the hospital's occupational health clinic.
If they feel ill at work, they are ordered to go directly to the clinic for testing.

What to do

The symptoms of H1N1 flu (previously known as swine flu) are similar to other seasonal flus:

  • chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue
  • runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation
  • nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur in adults as well as in children

In severe cases, or in individuals with other medical problems, pneumonia can develop

"As always, in flu season, if you have signs and symptoms, you do the right thing," Williams said.

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

Williams said this particularly applies if a person has recently been to Mexico or has had contact with a confirmed case in the past seven days.

People who have recently been to Mexico but haven't shown any symptoms in the past seven days are okay to go to work, he said.

"I've been impressed with the responsibility people have taken in this regard," he said.

Those Ontarians who have general questions about H1N1 flu can call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-800-476-9708.

If someone has flu-like symptoms and believe they may have H1N1 flu, they should call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.                    

With a report from CTV's John Musselman and files from The Canadian Press