2003-11
May 26, 2003
6:00 pm

Advisory

Update #66 - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

New in this update:

• Latest Canadian Numbers on SARS

Latest Canadian Numbers on SARS

"Active" cases include those hospitalized, currently ill at home, or under investigation.

ACTIVE SARS CASES IN CANADA

As of May 26, 2003, Health Canada has received reports of 351 probable or suspect cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Canada. There have been 27 deaths in Canada. To date, transmission has been limited to specific transmission settings such as households, hospitals and specific community settings. The information contained in this update is based on the information available to Health Canada at this time.

The details of the cases to date are as follows:

• Ontario is reporting 144 probable (11 active) and 146 suspect (41 active) cases.
• British Columbia is reporting 4 probable (0 active) and 44 suspect (0 active) cases.
• Saskatchewan is reporting 1 suspect (0 active) case.
• New Brunswick is reporting 2 suspect cases (0 active).
• Alberta is reporting 6 suspect cases (0 active).
• Prince Edward Island is reporting 4 suspect cases (0 active).

Total # of probables discharged or at home: 111
Total # of suspects discharged or at home: 161

These numbers are accurate as of 1:00 pm. Eastern Daylight Saving Time, May 26, 2003. For specific information on the provincial numbers, please contact the appropriate provincial health department.

World Health Organization Adds Toronto to their "Affected Areas" List

On May 26, the WHO added Toronto to their list of areas with recent local transmission of SARS. At present, the WHO is not recommending any restrictions on travel to Toronto.

Health Canada officials are in regular and frequent contact with the WHO to keep them fully informed of the situation in Canada.

Health Canada is concerned about the situation in Toronto, and continues to provide support to the province of Ontario to investigate the origins of these new cases.

For more information on the WHO's announcement, please see the following link:
www.who.int/csr/don/2003_05_26/en/

HEALTH CANADA TRAVEL ADVISORIES

Health Canada has issued a number of travel advisories to keep Canadian travellers informed regarding travel to affected areas.

For further information on Health Canada's travel advice, please see:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in the People's Republic of China including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Taiwan

Domestic Travel Health Advice: SARS in Toronto

Government of Canada action to contain the effects of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Canada, the Government of Canada has taken swift action on a number of fronts to protect the health of those who live in Canada -- as well as those who visit, and to help Canadians affected by the non-medical consequences of the outbreak.

For more information, please consult the following link:
http://www.pm.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=newsroom&Sub=
NewsReleases&Doc=sarsaction.20030502_e.htm

Screening Measures Related to Travel

At present, travellers entering Canada or returning to Canada from SARS affected areas will not be required to enter into quarantine.

Incoming airline passengers
The Government of Canada, again through Health Canada, has placed significant numbers of staff at the Toronto, Dorval and Vancouver airports as Quarantine Officers.

All airlines on direct flights coming into Canada from Asia are distributing yellow Health Alert Notice forms and Traveller Contact Information Forms (TCIF). Health Canada personnel are collecting the TCIF as soon as passengers disembark the aircraft.

In addition, Health Canada has placed Health Alert Notices with accompanying posters in all terminals for distribution to passengers from all other international flights (i.e. non-Asian flights) who are not being met by Health Canada personnel. These include airports in Halifax, St. John's, Quebec City, Montreal (Dorval and Mirabel), Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Outgoing airline passengers
Health Canada is using Health Alert Notices (cherry cards) to inform all passengers departing from Pearson International and Toronto Island Airports about symptoms and contact with persons with SARS.

We are working with airlines to ensure that the check-in procedure includes confirmation that passengers have read the cherry coloured card.

A Health Canada SARS team of health professionals is in place at Pearson to provide information to airline and airport staff. In very limited cases, this team will assist the individual traveller and, if necessary, arrange for the transportation of individuals to local medical facilities.

On April 30, Health Minister Anne McLellan sent a letter to the Air Transport Association of Canada seeking the cooperation of the association's member airlines in implementing enhanced procedures for screening departing international passengers for SARS at Pearson International Airport, and to seek continued cooperation in screening in-bound passengers at all international airports in Canada.

For more information about this letter, please see the following link:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/minister/events.html#1a

LINKS:

It's Your Health: Health Canada SARS Fact Sheet:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/diseases/sars.html

Government of Canada measures to help the people of Toronto and Canada

Health Canada Statement on the Health Canada / U.S. CDC Preliminary Report on the investigation into SARS spread to health-care workers:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2003/sars_statement.htm

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 SARS web site at www.sars.gc.ca, or call the Health Canada SARS information line at: 1-800-454-8302.

Media Enquiries:
Emmanuel Chabot
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803