SARS cases climb to 39 in Canada

Canada saw the number of possible cases of a deadly new respiratory disease rise to 39 today, as the province most impacted by…

Canada saw the number of possible cases of a deadly new respiratory disease rise to 39 today, as the province most impacted by the mysterious illness took more severe measures to control its spread.

Three people in the central province of Ontario already have died from the disease, including a mother and son who had traveled to Asia, where Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) first appeared.

Outside of Ontario, there is one possible case of SARS in the western province of British Columbia.

On Wednesday, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health advised thousands of people who visited a Scarborough hospital, where one of the Canadian victims of SARS died, to put themselves under voluntary quarantine.

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Officials were not sure how many people were presenting in quarantine, but it is believed to be several dozens, among them are 21 cases that provincial health authorities say are "under investigation."

A World Health Organization official said today that the death toll from SARS has climbed to more than 50, with some 1,300 others infected around the world.

AFP