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2003-11 AdvisoryUpdate #10 - Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeAs of March 25, 2003, Health Canada has received reports of nineteen (19) individuals who have become ill with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Ontario and British Columbia. There have been three deaths in Canada. All Canadian cases have occurred in persons who have traveled to Asia or had contact with SARS cases in the household or in a health-care setting. The information contained in this update is based on the best available information Health Canada has at this time. The details of the cases to date are as follows:
At this time, the cause of SARS remains unknown, however national and international laboratory testing and collaboration is ongoing. Here are the most recent developments: Due to the mounting concern about transmission of the SARS agent in non-hospital and community settings in the City of Hanoi, Vietnam; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province in China; and Singapore, Health Canada recommends that persons planning to travel to these areas should defer all travel until further notice. Health Canada is aware that health authorities in these affected areas are making concerted efforts to contain the spread of SARS in their populations. Given the uncertainties of the current situation, Health Canada believes it is prudent to await the outcome of national and international control measures before undertaking travel to these destinations. For further information on this travel advisory, please see: Health Canada has deployed three epidemiologists to assist Toronto Public Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health with the investigation of SARS cases currently under investigation.The department has also provided draft guidelines for infection control and draft recommendations on actions for public health settings. Health Canada is ready to respond to any requests for support from provinces and territories on the SARS issue. Scientists at Health Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg are now able to report that they have found evidence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in specimens from six of the eight cases they are studying. The metapneumovirus is part of paramyxoviridae family. These findings are consistent with the results previously released by scientists in Germany and Hong Kong. The findings of the NML are significant in that a common thread has been found in a majority of cases in Canada. This is a promising step in the ongoing investigation. Scientists will continue their work to try to verify the findings and to determine if there are other factors involved that are influencing the severity of this outbreak. These findings will not likely alter the current treatment for SARS patients. Health Canada has initiated the following activities:
Health Canada will continue to do everything it can to keep Canadians informed and will continue to work with the provinces and territories so that medical officers are fully informed and appropriate steps are taken to mitigate risk. For additional information on SARS, please contact Health Canada's information line at: 1-800-454-8302. For information on previous travel advisories to South East Asia issued by Health Canada and the World Health Organization, please see the following links: World Health Organization issues emergency travel advisory (March 15, 2003) Health Canada Travel Advisory (March 23, 2003) For Media Enquiries:
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Last Updated: 2005-02-23 |