Canada's total confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases have risen to 140, with 39 new cases confirmed on Monday, including the country's first severe case.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Chief Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones revealed the figures at a press conference in Ottawa.

Health officials in Alberta confirmed that a girl from the provincial capital Edmonton, who was hospitalized on Thursday, has been confirmed as being infected with the new virus.

This has been Canada's first such case that needs hospitalization.

Andre Corriveau, the province's chief medical officer of health, declined to give specific information about the girl's symptoms, only saying "she is doing well."

The officials refused to say if the girl's condition is potentially life-threatening.

Officials also said the province was not planning any school closures as a result of the girl's severe case.

In Ontario, the infections have spread outside the Toronto area in the southwest and in the North. In at least one new case the patient has not been to Mexico recently.

Prince Edward Island confirmed its first two cases, bringing the number of infected provinces to eight among Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2009)