Ottawa has confirmed 57 new cases of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, since Friday, bringing the city’s confirmed case count to 108.
Provincewide, there are 484 new confirmed cases since Friday, bringing Ontario’s total to 1,562, Ontario’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said Wednesday.
Almost all of the cases reported to date are considered mild. The vast majority have recovered.
As of Tuesday, 10 people were hospitalized with swine flu in the province.
The average age of the cases is 21 and Ontario cases involve 808 males and 750 females, with an age range of under one year to 97.
In addition to Ottawa, other cities have also confirmed new cases. Toronto has 159 for a total of 669; Peel Region has 116 for a total of 302; York Region, 71 for a total of 230; Halton, 38 for a total of 126; and Durham Region, 22 for a total of 53.
Other cities with new cases include Hamilton, Guelph, Windsor, Waterloo, London, Sudbury and Niagara region.
“Most of the testing being done right now is often unnecessary since a majority of the cases are mild and can be diagnosed and treated based on the symptoms presented to the physician,” said Williams.
“Since we’re asking that only hospitalized and high-risk patients be tested, we expect future reports will show that the provincial case count is growing at a slower rate.”
Because a review of Ontario laboratory tests shows that 85 per cent of people who get tested do not have either seasonal or swine flu, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has asked that providers perform tests only on patients requiring hospitalization and on patients at high risk of complications from the flu.
