The fact that a Toronto hospital worker has been diagnosed with A/H1N1 influenza may be an indication that the disease is spreading in Canada, health officials said on Thursday.

"Our colleague had no link to Mexico, which suggests the H1N1 virus is becoming more widespread in the community," Dr. Bob Bell, CEO of Princess Margaret Hospital, said in a staff memo, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The hospital, one of the world's top cancer care and research institutions, did not release any details of the job the worker performs, but said she did not have direct contact with patients.

Princess Margaret's infection prevention and control staff has tried to trace every hospital contact the worker had but so far it is not clear how she was infected.

The worker is now recovering at home, said hospital spokesperson Gillian Howard.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2009)