This is a very misleading statistic and is based on a wrongheaded ratio. The true death rate looks to be between 15% and 20%, based on all the figures we have as of now. Some put it at 25%.
Read this article: Docs Wrangle Over SARS Death Rate. You'll never use the 4.5% figure again.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/897275/posts