As you know, we've all been concerned about the "loosey-goosey" SARS definition...it seems to have been formulated with less than public health in mind, in my opinion.
An interesting article in the Wash Post about what Italy is worrying about, and there is a comment in it about the long incubation period, and the futility of checking temps for arriving travelers...
Judith Anne might be able to explain that a bit further. I am reluctant to make any assumptions about the "communicable" phase of the illness, mostly because I read so many conflicting opinions on exactly when a person is capable of transmitting the virus.
I think it is important to keep Toronto's problems with SARS in perspective, and to follow the concerns of other countries. I am convinced that Toronto has had some very bad luck with this, and that we should be very cautious in assigning "blame".
The comments excerpted from the Post article support my opinion, I think.
"Italian health officials said they continue to worry about SARS, notably a possible panic this fall and winter -- flu season. In February, a virulent flu swept the country.
"If in the fall, SARS intersects with influenza, we're ruined," said Mario Falcone, president of the Federation of Family Medicine."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46804-2003May27.html