11.45am
TORONTO - Ontario, Canada's largest province, has declared the Sars pneumonia virus to be a provincial emergency after a jump in confirmed cases of the deadly and mysterious illness.
The move, which gives officials extra powers to mobilise against the outbreak, comes after the number of probable cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the province rose to 27 from 18.
There are five suspect cases, and another 30 cases under investigation. The disease has killed more than 50 people worldwide, including three in Canada.
By declaring the disease a provincial emergency, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves now has additional powers to direct and control local governments, facilities, and equipment.
The government said it is developing a plan to increase the province's isolation bed capacity, potentially using new, unopened facilities as a way to quarantine patients with symptoms.
Dr Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health, told a news conference that anyone who has visited the city's Scarborough Grace Hospital since March 16 should be in quarantine in their homes for 10 days from the time of their visit.
Symptoms of the disease, which is believed to be spread through droplets by sneezing and coughing, include high fever, chills, coughing, cold and breathing difficulty. Many victims quickly develop severe pneumonia. Out of every 100 infected people, three to five die from the disease, experts say.
SARS has spread to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada and Germany, infecting more than 500. Suspected cases have been reported in the United States, Japan, Britain and Australia.
- REUTERS
Herald Feature: Mystery disease
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Pneumonia emergency declared in Canada
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