"Donald Low" was a Canadian microbiologist noted for his role in battling the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)/SARS outbreak of 2003. He was microbiologist-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, from 1985 to 2013.

Donald Low graduated from medical school at the University of Manitoba. Low became a familiar face to the Canadian public during 2003's SARS crisis; although he had no official role, he was seen as calm and effective in press conferences about the response to the outbreak. He was one of several physicians who were required to quarantine themselves at home during part of the outbreak. In 2005 he took on the role of medical director of public health laboratory of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion. Low was also a noted expert in necrotizing fasciitis due to Group A streptococcus.

Low's wife was CBC News reporter Maureen Taylor. He had three children from a previous marriage. Low was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2013, and died September 18, 2013, at age 68. In a video published after his death, Low calls for Canada to allow assisted suicide, saying "I’m just frustrated with not being able to have control of my own life, not being able to make the decision myself when enough is enough."

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This test wasn't working, especially in this situation.

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We're assuming the worst, that there has been likely transmission to health care workers, that there has been transmission to families and that there has probably been transmission to other patients, and that it provides the link to St. John's Hospital that we didn't recognize last night.

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The rapidity with which this has emerged over the last two to three years is probably unprecedented. When you look at the numbers, this way outstrips other so-called new infectious diseases.

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It would have put everyone's mind at ease very quickly and would have helped the investigation.

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[At the center of the investigation is a patient who developed pneumonia April 22 and was treated in the wards at North York Hospital.] This person was transferred to St. John's on April 28, ... This person did not develop symptoms until early May, and likely was the index case for the cluster seen at St. John's.

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We feel confident that this is the source of the outbreak.

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It's been a rough day.

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I guess in hindsight now, looking at the results we've seen with this outbreak? (I'm) not happy with the results.

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Maybe what we'll find is that you really need a combination of two tests, again, because not one test does everything for everybody.

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