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Toronto reports three new SARS deaths

More than 800 people quarantined in Canada

St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, where four people might have contracted SARS, was closed to visitors Friday.
St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, where four people might have contracted SARS, was closed to visitors Friday.

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TORONTO, Ontario (CNN) -- Canadian public health officials announced three new deaths linked to the SARS virus Sunday, bringing the nation's death toll linked to the disease to 27.

All of the deaths have been in Ontario, according to Health Canada, the federal health department.

As of Sunday, there are 34 possible cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome in the latest cluster, which emerged last week.

"There continues to be absolutely no evidence of transmission of SARS in the general community," said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, the associate medical officer of health for Toronto. "Virtually all our cases are in people who have been in health care settings or in the household very close to a sick individual."

She said the illness appears to require prolonged, close contact with a SARS-infected person to spread.

Because the 34 cases have been traced through four Toronto-area hospitals, officials are asking anyone who was at those facilities during certain times to check themselves for symptoms of SARS and isolate themselves if they appear.

The hospitals involved are North York General, St. John's Rehabilitation, St. Michael's and Scarborough General. Officials added Scarborough to the list Sunday.

Officials also announced that they have established an epidemiological link between new cluster of SARS cases and the original cluster, which was seen in March and April.

The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health alert for anyone traveling to Toronto, based on the new cluster of cases. An alert does not advise against travel to the area, but informs travelers of a health concern and gives them advice to reduce their risk of exposure.

As of Friday, the latest day for which figures are available, there are 318 probable and suspect SARS cases in Canada. Forty-eight have been in British Columbia, and the rest have been in Ontario.

As of Sunday, 822 people were in quarantine, Yaffe said -- up from 500 on Saturday. Quarantine -- as opposed to isolation -- applies to those who do not have symptoms but have come into contact with someone who has SARS.

Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's commissioner for public health, expected the number of possible SARS cases to grow as officials investigate each hospital further.

Canada has the largest number of confirmed SARS cases outside of Asia.

Taiwan reports 12 new deaths

Meanwhile, Taiwan announced 12 new deaths from the SARS virus Sunday, a disappointment after no deaths were reported on the previous day.

But the government also reported 22 new SARS cases -- a significantly lower figure than late last week.

Authorities in Taiwan are working to control the disease.
Authorities in Taiwan are working to control the disease.

Health officials believed the spread of the disease was slowing in Taiwan and had issued a series of statements urging people to resume their routines.

However, the 10-day incubation period for the virus has not yet passed for a cluster of cases diagnosed about a week ago at several hospitals. If that time passes with no significant increase in cases, officials might be on the way to controlling the outbreak.

On Saturday, Hong Kong marked its first day with no new cases reported. Officials there said two more people have died from SARS.

In general, SARS begins with a fever of at least 100.4 Fahrenheit degrees [38 degrees Celsius]. Other possible symptoms include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, body aches and mild respiratory problems, according to the U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After two to seven days, SARS patients might develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing, the CDC says.

While Hong Kong cheered its removal from the travel warning list, authorities there have urged residents to remain vigilant.


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