Military

DATE=04-22-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-302467

TITLE=CANADA-SARS (L-only)

BYLINE=BARRY BROWN

DATELINE=TORONTO,CANADA

CONTENT=

INTRO: Toronto is now in its second month of coping with the worst SARS crisis outside of Asia. Some officials are suggesting the city could be on the verge of a health "emergency" following the death of one more patient today (Tuesday). Barry Brown reports.

TEXT: As Canada's largest city struggles to contain an outbreak of the potentially deadly SARS virus, government officials are trying to calm fears Toronto is facing an epidemic.

Since mid-March when a woman infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)in Hong Kong brought the disease to a Toronto hospital, 15 people have died, about seven-thousand people have been quarantined, and more than three-hundred others are listed as suspect or probable cases.

While health officials have reacted by restricting hospital access and double-layered protective clothing for health care workers, Toronto has become something of SARS pariah.

Earlier this month, the American Association for Cancer Research canceled its conference in Toronto, a move that cut 12-thousand visitors and 14 million U-S dollars from the city's tourism industry. Others, like U-S-based Crystal Cruises, have stopped accepting passengers from SARS hotspots including Toronto.

Ms. Mimi Weisband, a spokeswoman for the cruise line said it

was a simple matter of business.

//WEISBAND ACT//

"It is our concern that we do everything in our power to ensure that we're not putting our guests and our crew at risk."

//END ACT//

To contain the outbreak, Canada's federal government and the province of Ontario, have promised to help the city. Money will be coming in to fund a SARS diagnostic test and bring in additional health care staff.

But no level of government has offered to help with the economic impact. When a senior federal official suggested the government might declare a "national emergency" and pick up the bill, Canadian Health Minister Anne McLellan quickly shot that down.

"There is no necessity to talk of a national emergency at this point," she said.

However Ms. McLellan did promise all available help for the city's beleaguered health care system.(Signed)

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