I know SARS has been a concern for some planning on attending the AoIR conference in Toronto in October, thus this is quite good news in that context (and for Toronto generally!). Sj
WHO Says Toronto No Longer SARS Infected
Wed Jul 2, 6:40 AM ET
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Wednesday Toronto was no longer SARS infected, leaving Taiwan as the only place in the world where the disease was not yet fully under control.
The announcement came after the Canadian city had gone the mandatory 20 days -- twice the normal incubation period -- without reporting a new case of the potentially fatal respiratory sickness.
According to the United Nations health agency, the flu-like virus has infected 246 people and killed 35 in Toronto -- the only place outside southeast Asia where people have died of SARS. Fear of the disease and efforts to prevent its spread have hurt tourism and economic growth.
SARS, for which there is no simple treatment, originated in southern China last November and has spread to 30 countries, killing about 800 people worldwide.
If there are no new cases, Taiwan should be declared SARS-free on Saturday.