Canada relieved as WHO travel ban on Toronto is lifted

THE World Health Organisation said last night it was lifting its warning against unnecessary travel to Toronto less than a week after it was imposed amid fears over the spread of the SARS virus.

The about-turn, taking effect today, was announced by WHO director general Gro Harlem Brundtland after talks with Canadian officials, including the health minister of Ontario, the province where Toronto is located, who had travelled to Geneva to lobby the UN health agency.

But other advisories affecting Hong Kong, Beijing and two major regions of China where the flu-like virus is believed to have originated "remain the same", Ms Brundtland declared.