19 new swine flu cases confirmed in Nunavut

Stepped-up monitoring of swine flu in Nunavut has turned up 19 new cases, health officials said Monday.

All the new cases came from communities in the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions, according to the territory's Health Department.

Officials said the spike in cases is due in part to heightened surveillance efforts for swine flu, which is caused by the H1N1 influenza virus.

The latest cases bring Nunavut's swine flu total to 25. Chief medical officer Dr. Isaac Sobol said he expects that number to keep climbing this week and next.

Swine flu was first confirmed in Nunavut on May 28. Since then, health-care workers across the territory have been testing every patient with flu-like symptoms for the H1N1 virus.

Despite the rising number of swine flu cases, Sobol maintained that the disease is no more serious than before.

A total five patients from Nunavut have been sent to hospital due to swine flu, but Sobol said all five are recovering.

In a release, Health Minister Tagak Curley asked Nunavummiut to stay home if they are ill and take other precautions to curb the spread of the H1N1 virus.

"I know this is a season of gatherings for communities," Curley said. "There are graduations, fishing derbies and other important events, but it is very important to stay home if you are sick."

As of Monday, 2,446 lab-confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported across Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Four Canadians have died of swine flu, including a Quebec woman whose death from the H1N1 virus was confirmed Monday.

Among Canada's other northern territories, the Yukon has confirmed one case of swine flu, while the Northwest Territories have confirmed two cases.