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Severe acute respiratory syndrome, known as SARS, has sent thousands into quarantine and put a strain on the country's health-care system, especially in Ontario, where most of the cases and all of the deaths have occurred.
The outbreak spurred the American Association for Cancer Research to pull the plug this week on a five-day convention of 16,000 people that was scheduled to start in Toronto on April 5.
The association said its members, especially those with clinical-care responsibilities, wanted to minimize the risk of spreading SARS among their patients, especially those whose immune systems are already compromised from their fight with cancer.
"It's a great regret to hear large conferences that have been planned for years in advance have unfortunately had to cancel," said Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health.
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