He was one of the key figures in Canada’s battle against SARS.  Doctor Donald Low died last night with his family by his side, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour early this year.  He was just 68.

A native of Winnipeg, Dr. Low was credited by friends and colleagues for both his contribution to the SARS response and for advancing the practice of microbiology and infectious diseases across Canada.  Low was the microbiologist in chief at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

He had a keen mind and loved to puzzle out intriguing new developments in infectious diseases.  But it was through the 2003 SARS outbreak that he became a familiar face to Canadians.  After the 2003 breakout of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Low oversaw regular updates to the public about the syndrome, which eventually killed 44 people in Canada and nearly 800 worldwide.

Dr. Donald Low is survived by his wife, Maureen Taylor, and by three children from a previous marriage.