WGSARS: Canada-wide Status Report April 16

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001107 SIPDIS STATE FOR WGSARS, OES/PCI, WHA/CAN (RUNNING) HHS FOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (STEIGER) CDC for Global HEALTH Office (Cox) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED CA SARS SUBJECT: WGSARS: Canada-wide Status Report April 16 (Number 4) Ref. (A) Ottawa 1078 (SARS Canada-wide Report #3) (B) Toronto 1097 (Ontario SARS Update #11) ¶1. As of April 15, 2003, HEALTH Canada has received reports of 296 probable or suspect cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Canada. There have been 13 deaths in Canada - all clustered in Toronto, Ontario. To date, transmission has been limited to specific transmission settings such as households, hospitals and specific community settings. The following figures reflect the situation as of 13:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time, April 15, unless otherwise noted: ¶2. Ontario is reporting 105 probable and 139 suspect cases. All cases have occurred in persons who have traveled to Asia or had contact with SARS cases in the household or in a health-care setting. (See Toronto reporting for details.) ¶3. British Columbia is reporting 4 probable and 37 suspect cases as of 19:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time, April 15. (One new probable and ONE new suspect case since report #3. Nineteen of the suspect cases have recovered.) ¶4. New Brunswick reports 2 suspect cases. (New Brunswick authorities note that both individuals have recovered) ¶5. Saskatchewan reports 1 suspect case. (Saskatchewan authorities report this individual has recovered.) ¶6. Alberta reports 5 suspect cases. (According to the Alberta government, all five cases have recovered.) ¶7. Prince Edward Island reports 4 suspect cases. (PEI authorities report the voluntary quarantine on these four individuals was lifted on April 14, they developed no signs or symptoms of SARS.) ¶8. According to provincial HEALTH authorities, the standard practice will be that suspect cases will continue to be counted as a suspect case until there is a definitive test to confirm or rule out the disease. Cellucci