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TORONTO (CP) - Health officials have confirmed a ninth Canadian case of atypical pneumonia and are preparing to test hundreds of potential patients as worries grow around the world about the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.

Doctors don't know what causes the illness, which is believed to spread through close contact with an infected person.

On Saturday, Toronto officials confirmed a seventh local case, a day after announcing that six family members had been infected, including a mother and son who died.

The seventh patient had come in close contact with the family, but officials wouldn't say what the connection was.

There have also been two cases in British Columbia - unrelated to the Ontario infections - where one person remained in hospital Saturday and the other has recovered.