The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) announced today that its meeting in Toronto, scheduled for May 10-16, would be postponed. The cancellation comes one day after the World Health Organization issued a travel advisory for Toronto in response to rising numbers of SARS cases being identified in the Canadian city.
In a (PDF-format) letter posted on the Berkeley, CA-based society’s Web site, president Richard Ehman stated that alternate dates are being sought. Conference attendees should continue to monitor the ISMRM Web site for information on rebooking and refunds, Ehman wrote. He did not say whether the meeting would be moved to another city.
SARS deaths in Canada rose to 15 on Wednesday when health officials confirmed that a 64-year-old man had died of the disease. Thus far, Canada is the only country outside Asia where people have died from SARS. Canadian officials said there were 324 probable SARS cases at last count, mostly in the Toronto area. Hospital workers make up a significant portion of suspected SARS cases.
The ISMRM conference is the second major scientific meeting to be affected by the Toronto SARS outbreak. Earlier this month, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) canceled its meeting. It has since been rescheduled to take place in Washington, DC, from July 11-14.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersApril 23, 2003
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