INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Wgsars: Canada-Wide Status Report June 10

Published: Tue 10 Jun 2003 07:07 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS OTTAWA 001640
SIPDIS
OES/IHA (Allindor), 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
SUBJECT: WGSARS: Canada-wide Status Report June 10
(Number 8)
Ref. (A) Toronto 1714(Ontario SARS Update #39)
(B) Ottawa 1167 (Canada Wide Status Report #7)
1. As of June 9, 2003, Health Canada has received
reports of 424 probable or suspect cases of severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Canada. There
have been 33 deaths in Canada. Canadian officials
maintain that to date, transmission has been limited to
specific transmission settings such as households,
hospitals and specific community settings. Health
Canada has provided the following figures, accurate as
of 13:00 EDT June 9, 2003:
2. The epicenter for SARS cases remains Toronto,
Ontario with 225 probable (66 active) and 136 suspect
(9 active) cases. See Toronto reporting for more
detail.
3. There are no active cases in the remainder of the
country.
4. British Columbia is reporting 4 probable (0 active)
and 46 suspect (0 active) cases. Representing a net
reduction of 8 suspect cases since the last Canada-wide
update April 25th.
5. Saskatchewan is reporting 1 suspect (0 active) case.
No change since the Canada-wide update of April 25th.
6. New Brunswick is reporting 2 suspect cases (0
active). No change since the Canada-wide update of
April 25th.
7. Alberta is reporting 6 suspect cases (0 active). No
change since April 26th (representing a net increase of
1 suspect case since our April 25th report).
8. Prince Edward Island is reporting 4 suspect cases (0
active). No change since the Canada-wide update of
April 25th.
9. No reported cases of SARS in Quebec, Newfoundland,
Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nunavut, Yukon or
Northwest Territories.
--------------------------------------------- -----
Health Canada broadens case definition for SARS
--------------------------------------------- -----
10. On May 29, Health Canada announced that Canada is
aligning its clinical description of symptoms and signs
of SARS with that of the WHO.
11. The previous definition of "severe progressive
respiratory illness suggestive of atypical pneumonia or
acute respiratory syndrome (RDS) with no known cause"
has been replaced with: "radiographic evidence in
infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or respiratory
distress syndrome on chest x-ray with no known cause
that can fully explain the illness."
12. According to Health Canada, the revised case
definition for probable and suspect cases will not make
a difference in the way cases are treated nor how cases
are identified. Cases that are suspect or under
investigation have always required appropriate
treatment or attention.
13. The WHO and provincial and territorial officials
have been apprised of the new definition.
Cellucci
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