niagara falls sars
 

Is anyone aware of any concerns regarding SARS when visiting Niagara Falls, Ontario??<BR>Thanks. [email protected]

There's really no SARS in Ontario outside of the greater Toronto area at this point. Niagara Falls doesn't fall (no pun intended) into that category.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel alert for Ontario. They went on to say the alert was not advising against travel but that travelers should be aware of the risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and perhaps to avoid hospitals.<BR><BR>I have reservations at Niagara-on-the-Lake in mid-June. I'm not going to cancel just yet, but wait and see over the next several weeks just how serious the problem might become in the Niagara area.

I am just back from Toronto from a 4-day trip. While the big story there, of course, is SARS, Toronto still hums right along. I stayed at a hotel a couple of blocks from one of the closed hosptials and one could see dozens of people milling about with surgical masks on, but other than that life is pretty much routine.<BR><BR>Let's consider that the odds of contracting the virus is miniscule, at best, and if you are otherwise healthy, it's rarely fatal. I think Toronto has a few dozen confirmed cases out of millions of residents. I mean, we're not talking about the bubonic plague here. And while the World Health Org. just rleeased its recommendation that Toronto be avoided, I'd return there tomorrow if I had a trip planned.<BR><BR>As for Niagara Falls, go, go go! Don't let something like this spoil your fun. I suspect that if one looked at crime statistics, they would most likely bear out that your pocket would far more likely be picked than you contracting SARS.

Oh for heaven's sake it's not the bubonic plague ! It is confined to Toronto. More people die of the flu every year and bacterial pneumonia has a higher death rate. ALL SARS cases in Toronto have been traced back to VERY close contact with an infected person. I live in Toronto. I take public transit. My life is normal except for answering stupid questions from well intentioned friends and relatives from elsewhere. Like - am I afraid to ride the GO train ? Am I wearing a mask? Am I eating at Chinese restaurants? Sorry to rant on but doesn't anyone have common sense any more?

Yes I have common sense and that involves checking with CDC and WHO and taking appropriate action. If you don't need to travel why take the risk especially if you are a senior!!

To Gandb1: there have been no cases in that area.

To JMM: why are you taking things personally?
It was a legitimate question from gandb1.
The centers for disease control and prevention, and the world health organization aren't issuing these warnings just to be a pain in our you-know-what.
SARS is spreading in different countries because of travellers. That is a fact. All they want is to contain it...and that's harder to do when people are traveling to/from affected countries.
Yes, the chances of getting it are really small, but not impossible.
Yes, it's not the plague and more people die of other things, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss it as nothing...or get pissed off at people who are expressing concern about it.

I think the warnings have to be taken in context. Yes, common sense can be used. Being that I'm 32 and in good health, I wouldn't have a problem visiting Toronto now (we have vacation plans in early May). However, since I am pregnant, I have a responsibility to my unborn child to heed the travel advisory that was issued. I'm not far enough along to have a c-section to save the baby if I were to get infected. And the drugs they give you are not safe for fetuses.

I give up. Let hysteria rule.

Common sense wins JMM. You think only in terms of young healthy folks and a lot of travellers to TO are seniors on bus tours from the US.Open your mind a little!

Guess you better not travel in the US then duke. From CDCs website:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Report of Cases in the United States
Data reported to the World Health Organization on April 22, 2003.

Information in this table will be updated Monday through Friday.

State Total Cases Suspect Cases Probable Cases
Alabama 1 1 0
Arizona 1 1 0
Arkansas 1 1 0
California 46 34 12
Colorado 8 6 2
Connecticut 5 4 1
Florida 15 14 1
Georgia 3 3 0
Hawaii 5 3 2
Illinois 13 12 1
Indiana 1 1 0
Kansas 1 0 1
Kentucky 2 1 1
Maine 2 2 0
Massachusetts 12 11 1
Michigan 3 3 0
Minnesota 7 7 0
Mississippi 2 1 1
Missouri 2 2 0
Nevada 2 2 0
New Hampshire 1 1 0
New Jersey 4 3 1
New Mexico 1 0 1
New York 27 22 5
North Carolina 6 6 0
Ohio 11 9 2
Oregon 1 1 0
Pennsylvania 7 6 1
Rhode Island 1 1 0
South Carolina 2 2 0
Texas 7 7 0
Utah 7 6 1
Vermont 2 2 0
Virginia 6 4 2
Washington 23 22 1
Wisconsin 1 1 0
Total 239 202 37

*
For more information, visit this CDC SARS web site.

I don't need to travel anywhere near North America for the next 3 months&gt; Suit yourself Jmm .

WOW! Things on here sure got out of hand!! I'm sure some toes got stepped on ... JMM, I know what you are trying to say. You made some very valid points ... you just need to work on your delivery. Your attitude left a lot to be desired there towards the end... Yes, the chances of average people contracting the disease are slim and life should not stop BUT there are people who are at high risk and should take percautions. (Those masks really don't do anything! Just keep washing your hands!! Everyone forgets those things that are most obvious) ... The elderly need to be careful and so do people with low immune systems! That is a fact. I will be visiting Vancouver soon and my mom was worried for me because my immune system is very low and I get sick A LOT. I told her that I have just as much chance of getting it if I stay here and I rather get it while doing something fun. LOL!! Our lives can't stop because of this... in a few months there will be another deadly virus...sad but true.

Just remember to keep washing your hands-with soap. ;) LOL!

I OWE JMM A BIG APOLOGY!!!! I am very sorry...I just read the other thread about SARS where you and Duke were posting ... now I certainly understand the attitude!! :)

We're going to Niagara Falls Memorial Day weekend, and yes we have concerns, not for me or my husband or my kids, but for my parents who are going with us. Later 70's so that does concern me, although I haven't heard of any sars yet in the niagara falls area and I do know that their main place of visiting will be the casino. I'm not being paranoid, just cautious, for their sake, we want to enjoy the trip, and I don't want them to worry all the time they are there. Any suggestions?

The SARS outbreak in Ontario was confined to Toronto, and no new transmitted cases have occurred in several weeks. Your parents are no more at risk of catching SARS in Niagara Falls (or in Toronto, for that matter) than they would be anywhere else in the world outside China (and perhaps Hong Kong and Singapore).