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Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Ontario officials pleased as WHO rescinds travel advisory


    GENEVA, April 29 /CNW/ - Ontario officials today are pleased that the
World Health Organization (WHO) has withdrawn its Severe Acute Respiratory
(SARS) travel advisory for Toronto.
    "We're extremely pleased the World Health Organization has rescinded its
travel advisory for Toronto," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister Tony
Clement. "I want to thank the organization for taking the time to meet with us
face-to-face and re-examine the compelling evidence that shows how Ontario has
been working successfully to contain SARS."
    The WHO announced the withdrawal of the travel advisory, effective April
30, pending steps to be taken by the federal government. The decision followed
a meeting today between WHO Director General Gro Harlem Brundtland and
Clement, Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health, and
representatives from Toronto Public Health and Health Canada. The WHO had
issued the travel advisory for Toronto on April 23.
    "Today's ruling reflects the tremendous progress we have made in
implementing our containment measures against SARS," Dr. D'Cunha said. "This
success would not be possible without the hard work and vigilance of
healthcare workers across the province, and the co-operation and commitment of
people affected by SARS who stayed in isolation for the full 10 days."
    The successful isolation of people has meant that, by the end of today,
the three remaining exposure sites in the province will be clear. There had
been as many as 11 exposure sites at one time, but eight have fallen from the
current list, without any additional cases of SARS occurring outside the
sites.

    This news release is available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca

    Version française disponible

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For further information: Members of the media: Michael Harrison, 
(416) 325-3986, Minister's Office; John Letherby, (416) 314-6197,
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; Members of the general public: 
(416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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