Canadian public health agencies are ramping up preparations in response to a new viral illness that has killed at least nine people in China and infected more than 450 people. The agencies say they are awaiting direction from the World Health Organization, on whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency as the virus appears in other countries. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, says the risk for Canadians contracting the novel coronavirus remains low. Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, says the country is in a much better position to respond to the outbreak, unlike 17 years ago when a severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, killed at least 774 people worldwide, including 44 in Canada. Williams says researchers have already identified the new virus, and a method to test for it is already being used. Those on the front lines in hospitals and clinics are already asking anyone with flu-like symptoms about their travel history to better diagnose and track the new virus. (The Canadian Press)
