SARS is no longer spreading in Canada, the World Health Organization said today.
This means the virus is under control and not spreading from person to person - a finding that should be important to the hard-hit economy of Toronto, Canada's largest city, where 23 people have died of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Elsewhere, a new cluster of possible SARS infections today dealt a blow to Singapore's hopes of conquering the virus, WHO experts visited a Chinese province heavily populated by HIV carriers and the disease spread further in Taiwan.
While Singapore awaited the outcome of tests on 30 patients and nurses who came down with suspected SARS at a mental health hospital, Taiwan reported six new deaths and 18 infections including some in new areas of the island.
Hong Kong reported two new deaths while China - the country worst affected - reported five fatalities and 55 new cases as official figures continued to indicate the situation was improving.
Today's new infections were the lowest since April 20th, when China's health minister was sacked for covering-up the epidemic and when Beijing vowed to begin reporting the real extent of the outbreak.
The virus has now killed at least 588 people and infected about 7,500 in some 30 countries worldwide.
AFP