TORONTO - Ontario's health minister says the battle isn't over in the fight to control the C. difficile outbreak.

The warning came even as the number of hospitals fighting to control the disease fell to seven from 10.

Twenty people across southern Ontario who had the infection have died since it was declared in late May.

Ontario's acting chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, says it could take weeks before outbreaks at the remaining hospitals are considered over.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says experts are working to determine whether they are related.

Hospitals in Napanee, Hamilton and Toronto have contained the bacterial disease.