Poll: Should MLB Move the Game?
SARS Outbreak Putting Fear
Into Blue Jays Fans, Players
By STEVE KEATING
.c Reuters
TORONTO (April 24) -- The Toronto Blue Jays returned home on Thursday for a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals but could be playing in a near-empty stadium as fears over a SARS outbreak grip Canada's largest city.
An advisory issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) warning against unnecessary travel to Toronto has sent new shivers through the city of nearly three million.
It is fighting to contain the spread of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which has no known cure and has claimed the lives of over 250 people worldwide, including 15 in Toronto.
Canada is the only country outside Asia to report deaths from SARS, with thousands more having been sent into quarantine.
Even before Wednesday's warning from WHO, the Blue Jays confirmed attendance had been affected over fears of the flu-like virus with group sales down by 5,000 to 10,000 and a noticeable drop off in the number of walkup ticket buyers.
Many of the popular Blue Jay bus charters from the United States are canceling trips, while a number of companies, provinces and countries are discouraging travel to Toronto.
Toronto residents are already wary of going out to restaurants, transit ridership has dropped and the decline in tourism has been devastating, industry watchers said.
In response MLB has issued a list of recommendations, cautioning teams and players competing in Toronto against signing autographs, riding transit and visiting local hospitals.
MLB's medical adviser Elliot Pellman is also scheduled to hold conference calls today and Monday with the teams playing in Toronto to address questions about the disease.
"Each of the clubs traveling to Toronto between now and the All-Star break (July 15) will take part in the conference calls," said Major League Baseball spokesman Rich Levin.
"Obviously there is some concern and Dr. Pellman wants to talk to the clubs to make sure they understand the precautions.
"But the games are definitely going ahead.
"Dr. Pellman, right from the start, has been in contact with Toronto health officials and CDC (Atlanta Centers for Disease Control) and making his recommendations on that information."
The weekend will mark the start of a nine-game homestand for the Jays with Texas Rangers and World Series champions Anaheim Angels following the Royals into Toronto, who are also having their problems on the field.
They are currently mired in last place in the American League East.
Some of the Blue Jays, who wrap up a three-game series in Tampa Bay on Thursday, have expressed anxiety about returning to Toronto.
Pitcher Cory Lidle's wife has left the city for the family home in Las Vegas, while others have indicated they plan to follow guidelines being laid out by MLB.
Visiting teams are also taking added precautions to help calm nervous players, the Royals training staff having reportedly been in contact with the CDC to get that agency's recommendations.
"It's scary, now they're issuing warnings not to sign autographs, not to take public transportation," Blue Jays Vernon Wells, told the Toronto Sun. "It's kind of scary for guys who have kids and their wives (in Toronto).
"But I don't know if it's as bad as they're making it out to be. I think they're trying to warn us what could possibly happen.
"I've heard some (people say) it is an overreaction, but you're talking about people's lives here.
"There have been a number of people who have died."
04/24/03 12:03 ET
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