Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has voiced concern at the swine flu epidemic as authorities raised the total number of people infected with the new multi-strain virus to 34.
All the new cases were only mildly ill, health officials said yesterday, but Harper told a press conference that everyone was very concerned about the situation.
"We are all very concerned about the situation as concerns the Mexican flu," said Harper.
"At the same time people should rest assured that governments around the world are responding to this in an appropriate and coordinated way.
"It is a serious situation and we obviously recommended the population to follow any warnings or any advisories that are being given for various health authorities," he added, urging Canadians to watch for any symptoms.
The first case of swine flu was confirmed in Quebec province, while three men and a woman who recently traveled to Mexico together were found to have the disease in Alberta province, but all are recovering at home.
In Nova Scotia, where the first Canadian cases were reported, another four cases were identified, local health officials said. A new case was also confirmed in Ontario.
Canada has now recorded the third highest number of cases of swine flu after the epicenter Mexico, with 12 deaths and 260 confirmed cases, and the United States, with one death and 118 cases.
