Toronto nurse dies of Sars

Sars nurses in Toronto are on high alert

A Toronto health care worker has died from Sars, bringing Canada's death toll from the virus to 39.

The 51-year-old is the first hospital staff member in Ontario to die from the flu-like illness.

The death was confirmed by the Ontario Health Ministry, but it is not yet known whether the victim, who worked at Toronto's North York General Hospital, is a man or a woman.

The hospital has been the epicentre of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in the Canadian province.

My thoughts go out to the family and friends of this health-care worker who worked so tirelessly for all of us Tony Clement Health chief

Provincial health chief for Ontario, Tony Clement, called the outbreak of Sars there "tragic" and said it had claimed many victims.

"My thoughts go out to the family and friends of this health-care worker who worked so tirelessly for all of us" he said.

Loosening grip

Canadian health officials say the number of people infected by Sars continues to decline.

On Friday, the Canadian Government reported 23 active probable Sars cases in Toronto - the only place outside Asia where people have died from the virus - down from 24 one week ago and 44 cases on 16 June.

Fifteen cases were listed as critical. Another two cases were listed as suspect.

Some 13 patients are still hospitalised and in critical conditions.

The Sars virus causes symptoms including cough, fever and difficulty breathing.

It is believed to have jumped from animals to humans in China late last year and has killed more than 800 people worldwide, infecting about 8,500.