Coldplay will play their June concert in the city

The Sars virus may mean the cancellation of several forthcoming major concerts in the Canadian city of Toronto as promoters grow wary over health fears.

The city has already suffered 16 Sars deaths since the disease was identified a month ago.

It follows cancellations in Asia by top acts such as the Rolling Stones, Moby and Carlos Santana since the outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already recommended against non-essential travel to Toronto.

Now agents for several artists supposed to play in Toronto are expressing their wariness about going ahead with the dates.

"We're in the process of trying to finalize their tours and confirm dates and we'll run it past our clients and take into account the latest developments and try to help them evaluate the risks themselves," said Rob Prinz of United Talent Agency.

The agency represents bands such as Blur and Placebo.

"If there's an outbreak of a disease in a particular part of the world and going to that part of the world might put our clients at risk," said Prinz.

He said it was natural to evaluate the situation constantly until the outbreak cleared up.

Lisa-Marie Presley already cancelled a promotional visit to the city on 10 April because of fears about the pneumonia-like virus.

A concert featuring Sir Elton John and US artist Billy Joel scheduled for next Monday at the Air Canada Centre was still on, said Riley O'Connor, senior vice president for House of Blues Concerts Canada.

'Business as usual'

Other major acts supposed to play in the near future include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stones Age, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle and Coldplay.

A spokeswoman for Coldplay's label EMI told BBC News Online on Friday that it was "business as usual" and the band planned to play the show on 11 June at the city's Molson Amphitheatre.

The reaction by international agencies to the Toronto outbreak has upset local concert promoters.

Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones are touring the world

"There's been no direct fallout on our business per se, but I can say one thing quite categorically as a person who lives and works in Toronto, the reaction by the media and the WHO travel advisory is totally out of proportion to reality," O'Connor said.