Mystery virus hits Toronto: ten people dead

Ten people have died from a mystery viral outbreak at a Toronto nursing home and another 40 are in hospital, public health officials said on Tuesday as they raced to contact anyone who visited the home recently.

The outbreak, an unidentified respiratory virus, has sparked memories of the SARS outbreak two years ago that killed 44 people in Canada's largest city.

But health officials said the latest outbreak, which was first detected on September 25, is under control although they warned that more deaths could be expected.

Four new deaths were added to the toll on Tuesday, all of them elderly residents at the Seven Oaks Home for the Aged. All of the dead were aged between 50 years to 95 years.

"Although the condition of some ill residents has worsened and unfortunately four more have died, others are improving and we are confident this outbreak is under control," said David McKeown, Toronto's medical health officer.

Health officials have ruled out SARS, avian flu and influenza and are awaiting lab results, reports the Reuters. I.L.