Stepped-up monitoring of swine flu in Nunavut has turned up 19 new cases, health officials said Monday.
All the new cases came from the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions, according to the territory's Health Department.
Officials said the spike in cases is the result of heightened surveillance efforts for swine flu, which is caused by the H1N1 influenza virus.
The new 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.
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.
