The SARS Crisis – What have we learned?

Brian Schwartz, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP

Sunnybrook Osler Centre for Prehospital Care

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

10 Carlson Court, Suite 640

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 7K6

The North American epicenter in the SARS outbreak of 2003 was located in Toronto, Canada.  There were 224 probable cases and 44 deaths, and health workers were the most affected segment of the population, both in Toronto and internationally.  Providing hospital-based and community health care was a huge challenge due to staff illness, quarantine and protection issues.  Dr. Schwartz will review the infection control and incident management issues, along with lessons learned from the outbreak, some of which may be applied to planning for future infectious disease outbreaks including pandemic influenza.