SARS Deaths

Toronto Jewish couple succumb to respiratory disease.

Toronto

Lastman, a member of Toronto's
he outbreak of SARS
Pride of Israel Synagogue, also told
(severe acute respiratory
reporters, "I have never been so angry
syndrome) roiling Toronto
in my whole life. If it's safe to live in
has claimed an elderly
Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto."
Jewish couple among its victims.
Meanwhile, Israel took steps of its
The husband, Joseph Pollack, was
own to prevent the chances of a SARS
hospitalized for a heart condition in
outbreak.
the same room as a SARS patient and
The Interior Ministry in Jerusalem
apparently contracted it from him,
announced April 24 that it is refusing
according to the Canadian Jewish News. entry to foreign workers from Hong
Pollack's wife, Rose, was infected by
Kong, Hanoi and parts of China.
her husband and died as well. Details
In addition, physicians at Israel's
surrounding their deaths were not
Ben-Gurion Airport are now examin-
available.
ing all passengers arriving on direct
"Toronto Jews are all talking about
flights from China, Hong Kong or
the epidemic," Deborah Pakis, a student Toronto.
at the Hebrew University-Hadassah
But one Atlanta medical expert
School of Veterinary Medicine in
warned that it is virtually impossible
Rehovot, told the Jerusalem Post.
Pakis returned last week from
Toronto after spending Passover
with her family.
The city — Canada's largest,
with 2.4 million people — is at
the center of the largest SARS
outbreak outside of Asia, where
the disease arose. Nearly 270
suspected cases have been
reported in the Toronto area, .
including 21 deaths in Canada
as of April 28.
During Passover and Easter,
Toronto authorities warned
Israelis with masks arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport
people to be especially vigilant. after flying from Beijing, China.
Many of Toronto's 175,000
Jews who attended synagogues
during Passover, for example, were
to stop the pneumonia-like disease's
advised not to greet each other with
spread at this time.
kisses or even to shake hands.
"To think that magically . . . any
And Toronto's Catholic archdiocese
government or any scientist in the
banned the drinking of wine from com- world could stop this, like you stop a
munion chalices and suggested replac-
car at a stop sign, is very unrealistic,"
ing the "salutation of peace" handshake
Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, a former direc-
with bowing or another gesture.
tor of the Centers for Disease Control,
told the Associated Press.
Mayor Furious
"What we can hope for is a sup-
At the same time, the World Health
pression and minimization," said Dr.
Organization (WHO) added the city
Koplan, now vice president of health
to a list of places that people should
affairs at Emory University and a con-
avoid visiting — a move that infuriated sultant to SARS researchers at the
Mel Lastman, the city's Jewish mayor.
University of Hong Kong.
WHO removed the ban this week.
As of April 28, some 5,000 cases of
"They don't know what they're talk-
SARS and nearly 300 deaths had been
ing about," Lastman said, referring to
reported in 26 countries, with a vast
the health organization. "Who did
majority of cases and deaths in mainland
they talk to? They've never even been
China and Hong Kong. The United
to Toronto. They're located some-
States has only 39 known cases.
where in Geneva."
— Wire reports

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