Killer pneumonia strikes again
15/03/2003 21:21  - (SA)  

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Toronto - Two members of a Toronto family died early this month from atypical pneumonia, a virulent form of the illness ravaging Asia, and four others - two from the same family and two in British Columbia - have been diagnosed with the disease, health officials said on Saturday.

"We know that all the members of this family went to Hong Kong before February, 23," said John Letherdy, spokesman for Ontario health officials. "We are trying to determine right now if there is a link between Hong Kong pneumonia and those cases."

Ontario released a nationwide alert on Friday to guard against the "outbreak of a potential communicable disease," following a worldwide alert on Wednesday by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva.

WHO said the disease had killed at least one person in Hong Kong and infected scores of others throughout Asia.

"Atypical pneumonia is a severe form of pneumonia that begins with fever, fatigue, shortness of breath and coughing," said Emmanuel Chabot, spokesperson for the Canadian Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

In some cases, he said, it can lead to chronic respiratory problems.

- AFX

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