Planning on going out of the country? You’d better think twice.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also known as SARS, is reason enough to avoid unnecessary travel, especially to Asia and Toronto, where SARS is more prevalent.
A peek at Peiking or a trollop through Toronto is not worth the risk of contracting the often fatal illness.
SARS has claimed many lives in our neighboring countries. It’s an airborne disease, so those who are around infected people could possibly contract it.
The total death rate of victims around the world at press times was 355 people, according to the World Health Organization. There have been more than 5,300 infections in more than 20 countries. Keep in mind there is no real cure, so the numbers are still rising.
Though not all infected people die from SARS, the symptoms are no picnic. They include headaches, a fever reaching 104 degrees and overall aches. In two to seven days, which is the normal incubation period, a dry cough develops. Eventually the blood doesn’t get enough air and hospitalization is necessary. Still want to shop til you drop in Toronto?
Air travel to China is particulary risky because most of the cases have come from that direction, and passengers on airplanes breathe confined air.
The Canadian cases, however, are too near for comfort. Though travel warnings to Toronto have been lifted, there’s no denying Toronto has the bug.
While it is unfortunate that Toronto is suffering financially from the cut in the steady stream of tourists, it would be more unfortunate if more people died from SARS.
So it’s best to do the safe thing and avoid unnecessary air travel, particularly to SARS hotspots like Asia and Toronto.