"Additionally, the spread throughout Asia of SARS, an acute
    respiratory illness, is inhibiting business travel and, in some cases,
    purchasing decisions, as many customers are temporarily closing
    plants to avoid the spread of the disease."

    Compared to other killer diseases (eg influenza, malaria) and even
    chronic atmospheric pollution from traffic, SARS doesn't really rate.
    So is the panic concern about it justified ?

Apparently.  I guess it's an unknown, WRT "seriousness" and contagion.
Companies have curtailed travel and shut down office buildings/etc

See the more detailed story in EETimes...
    http://www.theworkcircuit.com/news/OEG20030407S0061

    In a report, Morgan Stanley cut its 2003 gross domestic product
    forecast for the Asia-Pacific region from 5.1 percent to 4.5 percent
    to account for the impact of SARS. The company also said that if the
    outbreak lasts two more months, a number of Asian economies will slip
    into recession.

Whether the "panic" is justified on a "deaths per year" basis or something,
compared to "other things causing death or illness" is a question I'm not
qualified to answer.  WHO seems concerned...

BillW

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