SARS

When the first reports of SARS in Canada emerged, McGill's administration was quick to start monitoring the information on the disease and its spread, also developing plans so the community can respond efficiently and promptly if necessary.

So far, so good. To date, there have been no cases or even suspected cases of SARS at McGill University. There are no reported or suspected cases of the disease in Montreal, although there are a few people in quarantine.

Principal Heather Munroe-Blum has established an Ad Hoc SARS Task Force to coordinate campus response to SARS, including ongoing communication to students, staff and faculty, mostly by means of links from the McGill Home Page.

The task force is co-chaired by Anthony C. Masi (Deputy Provost) and Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier (Medical Director, Student Health Services) and is focusing on three things:

• monitoring the situation on a daily basis with special reference to the impact on McGill;
• working to ensure that appropriate training, protocols and protective measures are in place; and
• providing up-to-date information for the campus community through links to world health organizations.

You can become familiar with SARS and its symptoms at the links on www.mcgill.ca/sarsupdate. If you start to develop symptoms or have had contact with a person diagnosed with or suspected of having SARS, get in touch with a health care professional. Good health means never having to say you're SARry.