A 54-year-old doctor died of SARS on Wednesday, becoming the 44th person killed by the pneumonia-like illness in Canada and the second to die this week.

A paramedic walks past his ambulance, which has been sprayed with the phrase, "SARS SUCKS," in Toronto. A doctor under treatment for SARS since May died, bringing the total of SARS-related deaths in Canada to 44.  [AP]

Dr. Nestor Yanga contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome in April, health officials said. Two other health-care workers, both nurses, previously died of the illness.

"I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and patients of this family physician who worked so tirelessly for all of us," Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement said in a statement.

On Monday, a 44-year-old patient died of SARS in Toronto.

Eight people remain hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome in Toronto, where almost 250 cases were recorded in two outbreaks earlier this year.

The latest deaths come nearly six weeks after the World Health Organization removed Toronto from its list of SARS-infected areas, saying the city had contained the outbreak.

SARS emerged in November in Guangdong province in southern China. It killed more than 800 people worldwide, most of them in Asia, before subsiding last month, according to WHO.

Toronto had the biggest outbreak outside of Asia.

The outbreak caused major economic damage to the tourism industry in Toronto and southern Ontario, with hotels, airlines and restaurants reporting decreased business.

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+China's richest village: It takes brains and guts ( 2003-08-19) +Commentary: 'Manchukuo' lies hurt relations ( 2003-08-19) +Leaders meet Australian PM ( 2003-08-19) +New security official promises open mind ( 2003-08-19) +Government to rationalize auto sector ( 2003-08-19)		+Hambali supplies up to $45,000 for Indonesian bombs ( 2003-08-19) +NY back from blackout as regulators seek cause ( 2003-08-19) +Iran warns Israel on nuclear reactors ( 2003-08-19) +Morocco bomb suspects get death sentences ( 2003-08-19) +Talks on Israeli army pullback to resume on Tuesday ( 2003-08-19)