More than 100 people in Canada are now suspected of having contracted the new form of pneumonia which has been sweeping parts of east Asia.
 The virus has now spread to the west coast
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A senior government health official in the province of Ontario says more cases are appearing there every day, most of them among hospital workers.
Two Ontario hospitals have been closed down and staff at others have been ordered to wear masks and gloves at all times.
Ontario is experiencing the most serious outbreak of SARS outside of south-east Asia.
Officials say there are 81 suspected cases but admit that the figure is likely to be much higher.
Now, there is a fourth death.
There are few details being released about the person who died.
Quarantine
Doctor James Young, Ontario's commissioner of public safety, confirmed the latest fatality:
"What we are quite certain of in this case, though, is that SARS played some role in this death, and that this death is linked back to the outbreak at the Scarborough Grace hospital."
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MYSTERY BUG
At least 54 people dead and 1,550 cases in 13 countries
Originated in southern China
Spread by international travellers
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Scarborough Grace is considered the epicentre of the outbreak.
The building has been closed and medical staff there have been made to wear face masks, goggles and other protective clothing.
Thousands of people who have come into contact with the hospital have been put under a 10-day quarantine.
A second city hospital has also been closed and others are severely restricting visitors.
Nationwide spread
But it seems Canadian authorities have been unable to contain the virus.
There are now four suspected cases in British Columbia, on Canada's west coast, including one person in a serious condition.
On the other side of the country, in New Brunswick, a school has been closed and a teacher thought to have the illness has been put under quarantine.
People returning from trips to south-east Asia are thought to have been the source of the outbreaks.
The Federal Health Ministry is now working with officials at Canadian airports to try and devise a programme to screen people leaving and arriving on international flights.