[CathyRyan]

This is for all "The Stand People" out there. For the rest....Funding time?

[Nov3]

These AIDS experts have done such a good job with AIDS shouldn't we follow their advice on this?< /sarcasm>

Screw these morons they are just jealous that someone is doing the right thing here and we have a chance to stamp this out.

[Nov3]

In contrast, 94 percent of SARS patients recover.

This statement shows just how uninformed these morons are.

[Russell Scott]

While AIDS ravages Africa and China, WHO screams SARS! SARS! I scream SCAM! SCAM!

[harpseal]

Some of the reasona for the difference between the reactions to SARS and AIDS is due to the fact that one does not need bodily fluid contact, there are now treatments for aids, aids has been arround long enough for people to get used to the risk. The airborne communicable nature of SARS makes it far more threatening to the average lay person. It actually seems to have a mortality rate of about 10% to 20%. Now given the devastation of say a smallpox with a 30% mortality rate some rather sound epidemialogical control measures should be in place and honest communication about the nature of the problem is essential.

No I am not a "The Stand" person I am just trying to be reasonable. As of right now it seems the infection control protocols in place in the USA seem to be working well.

[Coroner]

AIDS is primarily a behavioral disease. Statistically 75% of US AIDS patients are male homosexuals, another 15% are I.V. drug abusers. How many others that are infected through casual sex is probably a large portion of the remaining 10%. Meanwhile a disease like Leukemia that kills far more innocents is underfunded being parasitized by AIDS!!!

[Dog Gone]

I certainly don't see any overreaction here in the US. Has anyone seen anyone wearing a mask in public? Any mass quarantines?

The worst Americans can be accused of is deferring trips to Hong Kong. The numbers were never large anyway, and I hardly see how that translates into panic.

Even if people are going to Chinese restaurants less (and they seem as crowded around my city as they ever were), BFD. French restaurants aren't as crowded, either, and I don't think Americans are under any moral duty to patronize any business.

[GrandMoM]

AIDS kills virtually everyone it infects without treatment and 20 years into the AIDS epidemic* and how many Billion of TAX PAYERS Dollars *there is no cure and no vaccine.

[EternalHope]

As individuals, we are clearly not at short-term risk in the U.S., or anywhere else in the western world (not even Toronto). Our efforts at containment have worked. It is too soon to declare victory, but victory may be near (except in China).

So what are these two doctors complaining about? A careful reading of the article shows these doctors believe the medical system's response to SARS was appropriate, everywhere except China.

They are right about breathless stories about "possible" SARS cases in the U.S., almost all of which are not SARS in the first place. That kind of media hype is always going to be with us, so it is hard to get too concerned.

They also objected to boycotts of Chinese owned businesses, and people wearing masks outside. They are right about both, although neither one seems like something to get worked up about.

As far as boycotts go, I doubt Chinese businesses are being boycotted to any large degree, except perhaps in Toronto.

As far as people wearing masks go, SARS transmission outdoors would require someone to cough in your face, so the masks are not needed outdoors. But if people feel better walking down the street with a mask on, so what?

On balance, this story seems to be a statement of the obvious, combined with a headline designed to catch a reader's eye.

The real story right now is China. It is definitely not hype to say this is a HUGE story, although actually getting that story out will be difficult. China has no desire to let the foreign media see what is going on in China.

SARS is clearly out of the box in China. What happens if China cannot contain SARS?

[templar]

There will be about three million deaths in the United States this year. How many total SARS deaths will occur in the world as a whole?

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

My own thoughts:
It's going to spread to every corner of the United States and will be worse than the 1917 flu epidemic. Millions of Americans will die from it. No it's hardly "The Stand". There is nothing anyone will be able to do about it. Just lie back, relax, read your Bible, pray a lot and get on about your lives.

[CathyRyan]

Well only one stand person post to this point. Oh well the night is young.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

This article says what I've been saying all along. SARS will be here to stay but will be easily treatable.

[ido_now]

What am I to do?

I've have cut off my nose, sold my house, killed everyone who looked like they might sneeze on me.

I thought this would make me safe!

Was someone not telling the truth?

[friendly]

Why worry?

A) The virus is intensely infectious.

B)It kills 5% to 20%

C)Many of those recovered are severely disabled.

D) It mutates rapidly.

E) There is no vaccine or real treatment

[_Jim]

People around the world are overreacting to SARS, creating a sense of panic ... "In some sense people like to be frightened"

Opening and closing lines - and it kind of sums up this whole situation, too. Add to that the fact that I think some people here on FR actually LIKED being the bearers of that supposedly really-bad, civilization-as-we-know-it-is-doomed news.

[heleny]

boycotts of Chinese-owned businesses and scenes of people walking the streets of Hong Kong wearing surgical masks show that the general public does not understand the real dangers, Baltimore said.

Dr. Ho and the wife of Dr. Baltimore are both ethnic Chinese. They all do biological research, but probably not on anything as infectious as SARS.