Toronto, June 09: Health authorities reported two more SARS deaths in Canada's largest city, increasing the total to 33 since the illness first appeared from Asia more than three months ago. A second outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has been mostly brought under control in Toronto, but officials have warned some patients in critical condition could die instead of recovering.
The two latest fatalities were a 66-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man who both died Saturday, according to Ontario health officials. The latest figures for Toronto, the epicenter of the biggest SARS outbreak outside of Asia, were 68 probable cases with more than 170 people displaying symptoms of SARS under investigation.
Toronto authorities thought they had the illness under control after the initial cluster had mostly disappeared by mid-May. An undiagnosed case at North York General Hospital led to a further spread among other patients, family members and health care workers.
The second cluster of SARS cases landed Toronto back on a World Health Organisation list of SARS-affected cities or regions. The UN agency also previously issued a travel advisory for Toronto, but rescinded it a week later after Canadian officials complained it was unwarranted and promised better screening of international travelers for SARS. Health care workers have complained authorities dropped their vigilance in may in a rush to proclaim Toronto safe after the initial outbreak of SARS. Bureau Report