Manitoba Health updated the H1N1 flu situation by saying the spike in numbers of very sick people announced on Monday has not changed.
Medical Officer of Health Joel Kettner told reporters he did not want to focus on numbers because numbers can be deceiving.
He reiterated that the vast majority of Manitobans who come in contact with the virus will experience mild forms of the flu.
Kettner says based on what has been seen in other places and based on a regular season of flu outbreak, a conservative "ballpark" estimate is that for every one person who needs hospital care, 1000 would have had the flu and not required hospital care.
He was putting the emphasis on "ballpark" saying the message he is trying to convey is that Manitobans need not fear the flu.
Kettner says this is true of Aboriginal and First Nations Manitobans, and any other group from our multicultural society.
He says this is not a disease of ethnicity; it is influenza which infects or affects everybody.
Kettner says factors like living conditions and overall health can play a role in the severity of the illness, and says those with tuberculosis would certainly be more susceptible to H1N1.
Kettner adds Manitoba Health does not want a prevention strategy that is worse than the disease itself.
He says closing schools, reducing travel to the north, or limiting contact with any given group would create a situation where prevention is worse than the disease.
Kettner says the key to containing and limiting exposure is through proper hand washing, cough etiquette, and remaining home when ill.
Kettner stresses if you do become seriously ill, you should seek care early as treatment has been proven most effective if done early in the cycle of the illness.
He says Manitobans should not hesitate to seek medical care if they feel they need it.
Jan Currie from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says the number of severely ill remains at 26 including three children, but adds that they are assessing a few more.
She says they are moving some general surgeries scheduled for St. Boniface Hospital to Victoria General to free up space in St. Boniface for those with H1N1.
They have also had discussions with nurses and unions about ways to best redeploy staff as required.
Currie says there has been a slight increase in visits to emergency rooms, and suggests that may be based on concerns more than the illness itself.
Currie says the WRHA continues to develop contingency plans in case more space is required to deal with H1N1 including moving patients to Brandon.
She says they have also started to make contact with other provinces to see who might have capacity in their systems.
Currie says health care professionals have been called on to go above and beyond for the past few weeks and have performed excellently under the additional strain, as they always do.
Kettner says Manitobans should stay tuned because every day they are learning more about the illness and how to best deal with it.
CTV's Shaneen Robinson is following this story
