April 30, 2009

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, says there is one new confirmed case of human swine flu, bringing to eight the total number of cases in Ontario.

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

The new case is in Toronto.

All of the cases to date are considered mild and the individuals are recovering at home.

With the World Health Organization moving to its pandemic alert level to Phase 5, Ontario now is providing :

• Enhanced communication to ensure the health care system and the general public are aware of the current situation and actions they should be taking
• Enhanced monitoring of flu-like illness
• Enhanced direction to local authorities to begin activating local pandemic plans
• Coordinated activities in its Emergency Operations Centre. The centre is supported by a scientific response team, with experts drawn from the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, to provide Dr. Williams and other ministry officials with technical and scientific advice.

Ontario is working very closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, and all provinces and territories.

“We expected that there would be more confirmed cases of human swine flu in Ontario as more lab tests come available and we continue our surveillance efforts. As during any flu season, the best way for Ontarians to protect themselves and those around them is to wash hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, and stay at home if you’re sick.” – Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health.

“Ontarians can be reassured that we have a health care system full prepared for whatever steps need to be taken to respond to the human swine flu situation. We are closely monitoring the virus and are relying on the best medical advice from the infectious disease experts that we have here in Ontario.” – David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

• People returning from Mexico who have symptoms of respiratory illness should contact their health care provider or call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
• For general information on the human swine flu, call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-800-476-9708.

For more information about human swine flu.

Read about public health initiatives in the province.

For further information :

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)

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