The lengthening arm of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) alarm has reached the coming Webmaster Summit, the organizers of which are hastening to assure potential show-goers that those infected in Ontario and the rest of Canada are "relatively small" in number, and Toronto - the site of the gathering - is not under SARS quarantine.
"Upon careful review of all the facts, we are positive that Webmaster Summit will not be putting anybody at risk, so it will go on as scheduled," organizers said in an April 7 statement. "We have planned an awesome event, and hope to see everybody there."
Show organizers say Ontario reported 67 probable and 79 suspected cases out of a population of 12 million in the province and two million in Toronto, the site of the Webmaster Summit. Seven Canadian deaths have been reported since the disease was discovered. Five of the fatalities were 70 years of age or older and had other health problems. Organizers said their information was based on reporting from such as the World Health Organization, Health Canada, the U.S. Centers For Disease Control, and the Toronto Public Health Board.
"All of the SARS cases have occurred in people who traveled to Asia or had close contact with an infected person in the household or healthcare setting," the organizers continued. "Unless you are treating a SARS patient in the home or hospital, visiting a SARS patient, or recently traveled to and from Asia, your chances of becoming infected are very low."
However, there are airline restrictions on flights with routes that include Asian destinations or points of departure, but no restrictions on flights with routes to and from Canada, Webmaster Summit said. "You will see signs on the walls of the terminals to create awareness of SARS. The signs will also instruct you on what to do if you should feel ill or suspect someone else of being sick."
If you are planning to attend the Webmaster Summit and want to be more certain that you're unlikely to be hit with the mysterious Asian virus, you can contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, or Health Canada at 1-(800) 454-8302.
