Dr. Eilish Cleary

FREDERICTON,N.B. - New Brunswick's chief medical officer says the H1N1 virus is widespread in the province, but for the most part its effect on victims is benign.

Dr. Eilish Cleary addressed the media in Fredericton today, and says to date 23 people have been hospitalized since swine flu appeared in April, with 18 recent admissions.

But Dr. Clearly says none have needed intensive care, while most people will recover after a few days.

"I think it's important for parents to know that what they are seeing is not any different from what they would normally be seeing every year from seasonal influenza or other viral infections," Cleary says.

Dr. Cleary blames a shortage of the vaccine for the cancellation of immunization clinics, while the province is now calling on all pregnant women to be vaccinated this week.

She says priority groups only will be immunized until more vaccine is available.

So far, 120,000 people have been vaccinated.