Between updates on the War in Iraq I'm sure many of you have heard about the 
latest flu known as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) that's about 
1,000 cases deep all over the world.

Well, seems my house is situated in the epicentre of the disease here in 
Toronto. Ground zero for the disease is Grace Hospital several blocks away. 
On March 26 a mother, father and child were admitted after visiting China. 
The disease spread within the hospital. This family was among the first of 
11 fatalities. However, many in the hospital, including staff, left the 
facility carrying the contagen before health officials could identify 
confirmed cases from existing symptoms. Others questioned the symptoms and 
some severe cases were moved to Scarborough Hospital (formerly 
Centennary)...some children were shipped to Sick Children's Hospital in 
Toronto. These hospitals and several others that were visited by paramedics 
and police who were in direct contact with patients at Grace (during the 
"first wave") have been quarentined and remain under-staffed and nearly 
dormant. I have an aunt who has been refused cancer treatment because 
hospitals in outlying areas are taking emergency cases only. And those that 
ARE being admitted are not allowed additional visitors or family access to 
their rooms.

The City of Toronto Health Dept., and now the Ministry of Health, along with 
the World Health Organization have identified over 100 carriers of the 
disease and nearly 100 suspected cases to be confirmed in the General 
Toronto Area. Three individuals have defied the quarantine order from the 
Health officials and have returned to work....these office buildings and 
their staff have now been quarantined. Two schools in my neighbourhood 
(Sandhurst Public and Stephen Leacock Collegiate) have now been shut down 
and the students told to stay home. My son's school, directly across the 
street from my house, is now experiencing a huge delinquency rate and many 
parents have begun sending the kids to school wearing hospital masks. It's 
just a matter of days before this school is shut down as well.

Flights into Canada from the Pacific Rim have either been cancelled or 
detained pending "cleansing".

Mail leaving Toronto since March 26th has been delayed or returned. I 
understand that Australia and England are now refusing many packages and 
mail coming from Canada.

I apologize to those awaiting shipments from us (including David Bash and 
Bruce Brodeen). And for those who have lived through the terrorist Anthrax 
scare, believe me when I say that this respiratory disease is NOT a threat 
via mail or any other airbourne career. You must come in direct contact with 
an infected person to catch the disease. Our government has decided to err 
on the side of caution in this case. We'd like to see this thing 
eliminated...

Just thought folks should know what's going on.

Jaimie Vernon,
President,
http://www.bullseyecanada.com
#1 West Hill Dr., Toronto, ON
M1E 3T4 Canada (416) 284-7067



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