For Immediate Release April 25, 2003

No Public Health Reason to Restrict Travel to Toronto

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) views the recent travel advisory by the World Health Organization (WHO), advising travelers to restrict all but essential travel to Toronto at this time, to be unhelpful in the control of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

Public Health and other health officials in the Toronto area have worked diligently and effectively to limit the spread of SARS into the broader community. There is no evidence of any casual transmission of SARS in Toronto. Every case can be linked back to the original index case.

Given the lack of a specific diagnostic test for SARS and that other more common infections and causes of atypical pneumonia can be confused with SARS, the lack of serious illness in other than the close contacts and settings already identified is reassuring.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has assessed the situation in Canada and indicates that: "Currently, all cases in Toronto are linked to Toronto's original index case and spread has been through person-to-person contact. SARS transmission in Toronto has been limited to a small number of hospitals, households, and specific community settings." CPHA supports this assessment.

While education, reasonable precautions taken by the public, and work to identify cases and effect quarantine as necessary continue, at this time there is no Public Health need to restrict travel to Toronto.

CPHA is a national, independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association representing public health in Canada with links to the international public health community. CPHA's members believe in universal and equitable access to the basic conditions which are necessary to achieve health for all Canadians.

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