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CNN Saturday Morning News
Another SARS Outbreak Strikes Toronto Again
Aired May 24, 2003 - ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: As we just told you, there's been another possible outbreak of SARS in Canada. Our medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on the new problems facing Toronto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The CDC has reinstated a travel alert for the city of Toronto, 25 now cases under investigation of SARS. This is new information. Five cases earlier in the day yesterday, now 20 more cases, two people in critical condition at one hospital. All of the patients are isolated.
At another hospital, two patients are dead. One of them was in his 90s, the other one 86 years old.
Two hospitals in the Toronto area, one St. John's Rehabilitation Center, one Northern York Hospital. Obviously a very fluid situation. This is what one of the doctors, one of the representatives from Northern York Hospital had to say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is so fluid right now. I mean, I think that's unfair to put a number on it. But we're talking 20s.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking at a minimum of 25 cases of SARS now, possible cases of SARS.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Possible, under investigation.
GUPTA: And obviously a situation still under investigation as well.
Let me bring you up to speed. The CDC and the World Health Organization both had travel alerts for the city of Toronto. Both those alerts have subsequently been lifted. Now the CDC only putting an alert, a travel alert, back on the city of Toronto.
An alert is very different than a travel advisory for this basic reason. They are not saying that people should not go to Toronto, but if you do go, there are some important things to keep in mind.
First of all, know that there are some possible cases of SARS out there. There's also some other commonsense information. Avoid health care settings, avoid going to the hospital unless you absolutely need to. Monitor your own health. Include taking your temperature. A temperature over 100.4 could be a problem. Frequent handwashing, we talk about this over and over again, but a really important thing. Wash your hands even with the alcohol-based wipes.
Stay informed about possible travel advisories elsewhere in Toronto or around the world.
They are not recommending masks at this time. Do not need to go out and get a mask. They do not think the situation is serious enough.
Again, really important to reaffirm, first of all, this is a travel alert, not a travel advisory. This is less serious. Second of all, these are all cases under investigation at this time. Obviously going to keep you posted (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on that. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 24, 2003 - 07;02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: As we just told you, there's been another possible outbreak of SARS in Canada. Our medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on the new problems facing Toronto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The CDC has reinstated a travel alert for the city of Toronto, 25 now cases under investigation of SARS. This is new information. Five cases earlier in the day yesterday, now 20 more cases, two people in critical condition at one hospital. All of the patients are isolated.
At another hospital, two patients are dead. One of them was in his 90s, the other one 86 years old.
Two hospitals in the Toronto area, one St. John's Rehabilitation Center, one Northern York Hospital. Obviously a very fluid situation. This is what one of the doctors, one of the representatives from Northern York Hospital had to say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is so fluid right now. I mean, I think that's unfair to put a number on it. But we're talking 20s.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking at a minimum of 25 cases of SARS now, possible cases of SARS.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Possible, under investigation.
GUPTA: And obviously a situation still under investigation as well.
Let me bring you up to speed. The CDC and the World Health Organization both had travel alerts for the city of Toronto. Both those alerts have subsequently been lifted. Now the CDC only putting an alert, a travel alert, back on the city of Toronto.
An alert is very different than a travel advisory for this basic reason. They are not saying that people should not go to Toronto, but if you do go, there are some important things to keep in mind.
First of all, know that there are some possible cases of SARS out there. There's also some other commonsense information. Avoid health care settings, avoid going to the hospital unless you absolutely need to. Monitor your own health. Include taking your temperature. A temperature over 100.4 could be a problem. Frequent handwashing, we talk about this over and over again, but a really important thing. Wash your hands even with the alcohol-based wipes.
Stay informed about possible travel advisories elsewhere in Toronto or around the world.
They are not recommending masks at this time. Do not need to go out and get a mask. They do not think the situation is serious enough.
Again, really important to reaffirm, first of all, this is a travel alert, not a travel advisory. This is less serious. Second of all, these are all cases under investigation at this time. Obviously going to keep you posted (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on that. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
