Updated: Fri May. 15 2009 3:54:54 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

Ontario has reported 32 new confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Ontario, with 15 of those in Toronto, but the province says this reflects the clearing up of backlogged tests.

That brings the provincial total to 187. The increase on Thursday had been 36.

"The increase in our numbers for today is a reflection of our enhanced surveillance and increased laboratory testing capacity which has allowed us to clear our backlog of tests," Dr. David Williams, the province's acting chief medical officer of health, said Friday in a news release.

"We also continue to see substantial numbers of seasonal flu cases."

All the cases of the mild variety, although health officials cautioned that one person has been hospitalized for other medical reasons.

There are 95 males and 91 females who have contracted the virus, with further information coming on one remaining case. They range in age from one to 86.

The cases are distributed as follows (new cases in brackets):

• Toronto - 73 (20)
• York region - 27 (3)
• Halton - 23 (5)
• Peel region - 23 (2)
• Durham region - 10
• Ottawa - 7
• Windsor-Essex - 5
• Sudbury and district - 3
• Hamilton - 3 (1)
• Simcoe-Muskoka - 2
• Hastings and Prince Edward - 1
• Oxford Country - 1
• Middlesex-London - 1
• Waterloo - 1
• Wellington Dufferin Guelph - 1
• Leeds, Grenville & Lanark - 1
• Out of province - 2

Ontario generally gets about 9,000 seasonal flu cases per year, with 500 deaths resulting. The province's population is about 13 million.

Nationally, 449 cases have been lab-confirmed as of Thursday.

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 has 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.