[Judith Anne]

Most of the time, the viruses we see in the US in the fall and winter get their start in China, most particularly rural China, in the late winter and previous spring.

That's what we base our flu vaccines on, each year, the most likely virus to cause that year's US flu--the most prevalent Chinese virus...I just don't think there will be an effective vaccine against SARS, no matter how much research there is. There are too many unknowns, too many hurdles, and too much variability in the coronavirus RNA thought to be responsible.

Hope I'm being clear. I woke up and decided to check the SARS news threads...haven't had much coffee yet.

[Judith Anne]

PS, I don't think that SARS targets a particular genetic group. I think all are vulnerable. I don't think there is any ethnic protection against SARS. This whole genetic immunity thing reminds me of some of the prejudices and superstitions people had during the plague epidemics.

When I read posts that say that "The US with its better-nourished, healthier, less vulnerable, cleaner population, and with its lead in health care and research, won't suffer as badly as poor rural ethnic Chinese from this illness," and stuff like that, I would almost laugh, if it weren't so grim.

The US western population has no guarantee of special immunity here.