Toronto Public Health is “actively monitoring” cases of undiagnosed viral pneumonia in China, but says it is not aware of any reported cases in Canada.

Health authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China have reported at least 59 cases, and are associated with a local live seafood market. No deaths have been reported,but at least seven people are critically ill.

Symptoms of the illness include high fever, difficulty breathing and lung lesions, the Wuhan health commission has said.

Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, said the illness reported in China has not been found in Toronto.

“At this point, while there are no cases of this illness reported in Toronto, the city has a well-developed response plan should the situation change. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor and work collaboratively with our colleagues at the Public Health Agency of Canada and the province who are the leads for this area,” she said in a statement Tuesday.

Even though local Chinese authorities confirmed the latest mysterious respiratory illness is not SARS, the latest illness has awoken fearful memories of the 2002-03 epidemic.

That’s when the viral illness that started in southern China killed more than 700 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and elsewhere. In Toronto, 44 deaths were blamed on SARS.

“Given that Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international travel hub, Toronto Public Health is actively monitoring this situation, along with provincial and national health agencies,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

Workers wearing hazmat suits disinfected and shut down the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, which also sold poultry, pheasants and wild animal meats, after the city health department said it traced many of the cases to it. Viruses that caused SARS and the H7N9 strain of bird flu in humans were first detected in markets that sold animals and experts have said contact with infected animals was the likeliest source of transmission.

Reports of the latest illness have come at the same time as a local circulation of influenza, also known as the flu, in Toronto.

The flu can spread to others before symptoms even appear, Toronto Public Health said. Typical symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, chills, a sore throat, a cough and muscle aches. Other symptoms include headache, loss of appetite and fatigue.

Recovery from the flu generally takes a week to 10 days. In rare circumstances, it can be fatal.

“Residents who return from recent international travel and become ill with respiratory signs and symptoms such as cough and fever are reminded to report their travel history to any health professional, or an emergency room, when they visit,” the statement reads.

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Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc

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