Canada is taking the risk more seriously because of the fact that, in 2003, Toronto was one of the main hot spots in the SARS epidemic.
Poor communication and a lack of resources and proper protocols led to the spread of the virus and contributed to the deaths of 44 people. That prompted Ottawa to create the Public Health Agency of Canada, with 2,400 employees and its own laboratory facilities.
One of the agency’s chief roles is to co-ordinate the response to pandemics, test for new cases and enforce protocols that can limit the spread of a virus. End quote
