The new viral super-pneumonia from China, SARS, is responsible for the panic of millions of Americans. But even in China, where the "epidemic" began, it seems only a minor threat. In Hong Kong, the virus killed 10 out of 316 who were hospitalized with it -- a death rate of about 3% -- and that doesn't count people who caught the bug but weren't sick enough to seek medical care. In the United States, forty people have been hospitalized with SARS, and none have died. Other forms of pneumonia kill about 40,000 Americans annually, so SARS has a ways to go before hysteria is justified. More debunking here courtesy of science writer Michael Fumento. The best news: contrary to many news reports, there is a drug that has proven fairly effective at fighting it.
i think that this may be a bit overblown, but saying that i´m just as guilty...my brother decided two weeks ago to go on a month long business trip in china and thailand, etc. and yes, i am very concerned for him!
Jerry,
I wouldn't try debunking news about a rapidly expanding deadly epidemic unless and until you have become exposed to the malady and woke up one morning, alive and back to normal health.
Otherwise, you might learn to late that you whistled your way past the cemetery one time too many.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I worry far less about this than I worry about a terrorist attack, and I worry about a terrorist attack barely at all.
Does anyone know if foreigners are abandoning China due to the government warnings "We know that we are receiving reports of cases from several provinces in China, but most of the cases are recognized in the Guangdong Province, where we have strong suspicion of ongoing spread within the community there, and that the epidemic is not actually over there. There are new cases being reported at least as of March 31st. So the travel advisory is advising travelers to avoid non-essential travel to the Guangdong Province of China and to Hong Kong. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/t030402.htm When are they going to STOP international flights? ANy other lao wai here in China have thoughts on this?