[Judith Anne]

Good morning newbie. What are you doing here?

[doom n gloom]

Heh! I just couldn't resist since the thread seemed so apropos to my new moniker.. Sorry for trying to make a joke!

[doom n gloom]

On a more serious note, it's yet quite unclear (as you seek to imply) that SARS is anywhere close to having run its course. Whereas SARS appears at least somewhat less virulent than influenza, its mortality rate is in fact substantially higher than was that of the Spanish Flu. By all accounts, SARS entered widespread transmission well toward the end of the 02-03 cold/flu season.

It yet remains to be seen how easily contained it will prove (the recent outbreak in Toronto is not promising) or how extensive its impact once it runs a full cold season course. Moreover, it's an open question how devastating SARS may prove once it enters African or South Asian or even Latino populations that are both much more open than the East Asian outbreak regions and have far inferior medical services.

I'm not predicting anything in particular, just suggesting that no one really knows...yet.