The death toll from the SARS virus in Toronto has risen to 18 after health officials in the city confirmed that two more people have died.
Health authorities have warned for days that some critically ill Sars patients out of the 250 probable and suspected cases were likely to die, often due to underlying illness.
Canada has been told the World Health Organisation will not lift its warning against travel to Toronto over the SARS epidemic, a spokeswomen for the UN agency said.
She said WHO chief Gro Harlem Brundtland had told Canadian Health Minister Anne Mclellan of the decision last night.
Canada attacked the WHO on yesterday, saying the agency imposed a travel warning on its largest city for political reasons and insisted the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak was coming under control.
AFP