Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health. (Aaron Hinks/QMI Agency)

Ontario's chief medical officer of health announced Tuesday that an Ontario man has been confirmed to be infected with an H1N1 variant influenza virus.

"An influenza virus that normally circulates in animals is referred to as a variant virus when it infects humans," Dr. Arlene King said in a release. "This adult male patient became ill after close contact with pigs. He is being treated and closely monitored in a hospital in southwestern Ontario."

King stressed that the variant influenza virus rarely spreads from animals to people, and person to person transmission is also rare.

The influenza virus is also not a food safety issue, she said. It's still safe to eat properly cooked pork.

"Ontarians should remember that handwashing is the single best infection prevention and control measure against respiratory illnesses such as influenza," King said. "Individuals should wash their hands often with soap and running water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available."

King also reminded Ontarians that they can protect themselves against seasonal influenza viruses by getting the seasonal flu vaccine each fall.

The H1N1 variant wasn't unexpected, King said, and over the past year in the U.S., a number of people have been infected with variant influenza viruses.