Swine Flu Cases Top 1,000 in Canada

The number of people infected with swine flu in Canada climbed past the 1,000 mark with 197 new cases confirmed Wednesday, according to health officials.

Canada now has 1,118 total A(H1N1) cases, including two deaths, with Ontario province alone recording 495 cases. The country has the largest number of infections after Mexico and the United States.

Ontario province's public health department said the deceased suffered from "pre-existing conditions" and that the role that the swine flu virus played in their deaths was "not clear" and was the focus of an official inquiry.

Similar questions were being asked by authorities in Alberta province, where Canada reported its first swine flu fatality: a woman with other medical problems.

After Ontario, Quebec province now has 207 reported cases, an increase of 22 new infections, according to a tally by national health officials.

There are also 120 cases reported in British Colombia, 109 cases in Alberta, 104 in Saskatchewan and 71 cases in Nova Scotia.

Prior to Canada's announcement, the World Health Organization said 13,398 people in 48 countries since it was first uncovered last month -- figures which did not include the latest two nations with confirmed cases, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

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Source-AFP
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