- TORONTO (Reuters) - Ten people
have died from a mystery viral outbreak at a Toronto nursing home and another
40 are in hospital, public health officials said on Tuesday as they raced
to contact anyone who visited the home recently.
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- The outbreak, an unidentified respiratory virus, has
sparked memories of the SARS outbreak two years ago that killed 44 people
in Canada's largest city.
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- But health officials said the latest outbreak, which
was first detected on Sept. 25, is under control although they warned that
more deaths could be expected.
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- Four new deaths were added to the toll on Tuesday, all
of them elderly residents at the Seven Oaks Home for the Aged. All of the
dead were aged between 50 years to 95 years.
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- "Although the condition of some ill residents has
worsened and unfortunately four more have died, others are improving and
we are confident this outbreak is under control," said David McKeown,
Toronto's medical health officer.
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- "Given the age of the population...it's not at all
unexpected to see more deaths."
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- Health officials have ruled out SARS, avian flu and influenza
and are awaiting lab results.
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- But McKeown said it is possible they may never be able
to identify the virus, which has infected 70 residents at the home as well
as 12 employees and two visitors.
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- Forty people have been put into isolation in hospital.
Residents with less severe symptoms are recovering at the nursing home
which is closed to visitors and new patients.
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- Hospitals and emergency rooms were operating normally
but medical staff at hospitals with infected patients are donning gowns,
masks and gloves when handling patients.
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