Sars hits Toronto with an aftermath

By Sven Eriksen
April 07, 2003
Canada has just finished battling a massive spread of a fatal respiratory illness known as SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome. Following a first wave of patients with or suspected to have SARS, thousands were put into quarantine.

After around 30 individuals died from the illness, Canada became the worst hit place by SARS outside of Asia. The nation's healthcare system was under heavy pressure to increase airport security by screening passengers for common SARS-related symptoms such as trouble breathing and high body temperature.

Toronto suffered from two waves of the SARS illness, making way for improved handling and increased security. Unfortunately, the first wave was not enough to implement changes across the board from hospitals to airports.

Canada is not the only one under heavy international pressure. Following a travel advisory by the WHO (World Health Organisation), the city of Toronto's economy fell into a slump, affecting local business and tourist attractions.

How well is our government dealing with security? A country of nearly 10 times the population to the south has very effective avoided SARS and the recent madcow scare.

Problems originate within the training and hiring practices of government-funded services. Airport staff proved their capacity when costly heat detectors at Toronto Pearson Airport were not only not operational, but still packed away. Hospital staff were obviously severely underfunded when SARS went out of control infecting staff and patients until it was finally stopped. It was stopped, but then a second wave was allowed to happen, increasing the ever growing international criticism.

Federal, provincial and municipal governments are not working together, yet they are voted in for the people and by the people. Our system is in such a mess that overfunding and underfunding mean much the same thing. We're not working very efficiently, madcow and SARS both proved that point.

The only way to avoid these things from happening again is reform by all levels of government, better airport measures, improved [not necessarily increased] hospital funding and more attention to the things that really matter to Canadians` health and wellbeing.


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