[Alberta's Child]

No, if this becomes a global epidemic everyone will be affected.

Even an epidemic doesn't necessarily infect everyone. The most devestating impact will be felt among groups that have compromised immune systems.

From what I understand, the new strains of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis hardly infects anyone outside those groups.

[InShanghai]

Do you know whether any information has been given concerning the infection rate for SARS? There was an apartment building in Hong Kong that has been quarantined but really no indication as to the number of occupants. If the building had 1000 occupants and only 70 new cases, maybe the 70 had some sort of immuno-deficiency to begin with. Quarantining the building makes sense because of the incubation period.

From cebadams post above: One Hong Kong hospital has 150 patients with the disease, 30 of whom are being treated in intensive care. Many of these are on ventilators. The WHO says several would have died already without mechanical ventilation.

However, the fact that 20% of those infected require ventilation: keeping people at home would basically be denial of medical assistance.

I think this is one of the scenarios in "The Stand".