WHO Clears Toronto of SARS

May 15, 2003

WHO Clears Toronto of SARS
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that it no longer considers Toronto an area affected by SARS because at least 20 days had passed since the last domestically acquired cased of the virus was found.

According to USAToday.com, the WHO indicated the last case of SARS was isolated or had died April 20. Additionally, the WHO received evidence from the United Nations health agency that the chain of local transmission in Toronto had been broken.

Canadian officials cheered the announcement, saying it was "another vote of confidence" and proof it was safe to travel to Toronto.

SARS has claimed the life of 24 individuals in Canada since March, with all of the deaths and most of the more than 140 probable cases in Toronto.

For more on this story, visit USAToday.com.