TORONTO, April 15: A Canadian hospital for which the Pakistani community had raised $55,000 last month has been closed — not because of lack of funds but because of SARS, which has claimed three more lives, raising the number of the mysterious disease’s victims to 13 across Canada.

During the Pakistan Day function here on March 23, Pakistani Canadians had collected funds for the Markham Stouffville Hospital, which has now been closed for all cases except life-threatening emergencies, hospital president Dr Jim McClean announced on Monday.

The hospital has been closed following the deaths of three more SARS patients, all elderly women who died in the Greater Toronto Area. Two other patients were in serious condition.

Patient visitation continues to be suspended in many hospitals here with the exception of immediate family visiting critically ill patients.