[Smokin' Joe]

I think we are complacent to think, even with our medical advances, that something like this can’t happen today.

I agree. In our reliance on antibiotics to kill what ails you, as a culture we have let the most basic of sanitary habits fade away.

I am afraid there would be a period when any pandemic disease would spread like wildfire, partly because so many are clueless about containing their own germs, and partly because diseases hyped in the press which seem to affect few would lead many people to ignore initial reports as more hype.

With air travel, in 24 hours the damage would be done.

[Malacoda]

I believe that all the antibacterial soaps and clorox sanitizing wipes have a lot to do with it, as well. People keep things SO clean that they don't give their immune systems anything to fight...and end up with wimpy little immune responses.

My niece is CONSTANTLY sick now that she has started school, because my SIL religiously sanitized everything, used the Dial antibacterial soap, bleach, Purell, etc. -- the poor little girl had practically NO immune system, and when she started school she was ripe for every bug that came down the pike.