TORONTO, April 15 (UPI) -- Health officials have linked a cluster of previously reported cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome to a religious community in Toronto.
Dr. Sheela Basrur, the city's medical officer of health, said there are 10 probable cases and 19 suspected cases among members of the Bukas-Loob Sa Divos Covenant group, an international Catholic sect. Two doctors treating the group have also been infected.
"The majority of cases were actually previously identified and now, the pattern is emerging that has linked them all together," said Basrur.
Members of the community were exposed to the disease two weeks ago at the funeral of a SARS victim, she said.
All 500 members of the sect in Toronto have been sent letters instructing them to go into a 10-day quarantine period.
Meanwhile, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Colin D'Cunha said Tuesday the containment of SARS depends on people in home isolation remaining there for the full 10 days or as directed by a physician.
"With the holiday weekend approaching, there are family and religious gathering that people in home isolation may want to attend," D'Cunha said. "However, I strongly urge anyone still in quarantine to refrain from going to these gatherings."
As of Tuesday, there are approximately 236 cases of SARS in Ontario, which includes 100 probable and 136 suspect cases. To date, 85 patients treated for SARS have been discharged from the hospital, an increase of 30 from Sunday.
Health officials said there have been 13 SARS deaths in Ontario.
