Dr. Donald Low, key figure in 2003 SARS outbreak, dies at 68

Infectious diseases expert Dr. Donald Low from Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital speaks with CTV News on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.

A Winnipeg man who played a key role in Canada’s battle against SARS has died at age 68 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in early 2003.

Dr. Donald Low died Wednesday, Sept. 18, with family at his side, said a former colleague of Low’s.

Low has been credited by friends and colleagues for his contribution to the SARS response and for advancing practices across Canada in microbiology and infectious diseases.

It was during the 2003 SARS outbreak he became known to Canadians for his work. Although he had no formal leadership role on the response team, his ability to explain to the public through the media what was happening made Low the face of Toronto’s SARS response.