2 Ontarians with swine flu now in hospital
May 21, 2009
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Theresa Boyle
HEALTH REPORTER
Two Ontarians are now hospitalized with swine flu and other underlying health problems, including a Toronto man with congestive heart failure.
The provincial health ministry is revealing few details about the cases, but a source has said the 60-year-old Toronto man is on life support. He has been in Toronto Western Hospital for more than a week.
Officials revealed yesterday that the second individual is in hospital but said patient confidentiality prohibits them from revealing where.
There have been 272 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Ontario, all but two of them mild. The outbreak is hitting hardest in the GTA, where 233 people have tested positive.
The mild cases also include five Ontarians who were admitted to hospital after experiencing influenza-like symptoms. It wasn't until after they were released that lab results showed they tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.
Meantime, media in Cuba are reporting that a 14-month-old Toronto boy has tested positive for the virus. This is Cuba's fourth case of H1N1. The boy, who recently arrived in Cuba with his parents, was tested for the virus after experiencing a fever and respiratory symptoms. He was hospitalized and is now symptom-free, though he continues to be treated with antiviral medication, as do others who came in contact with him.
Symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to seasonal influenza and can include cough, fever and sore throat.
Toronto Star
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