The virus that causes SARS has been isolated and proven to cause the disease.
If by "old fashioned pneumonia" you mean the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, once named Diplococcus pneumoniae, then it could be easily cured, because, with rare exceptions, most bacteria are suseptible to antibiotics. Viruses in the main, however, are not suseptible to common antibiotics, or even the few anti-viral drugs that exist.
Still, I believe our sanitation with isolation for cases will keep SARS in check in the U.S., as this virus is not "highly" contagious, despite the hype.
It's also helpful that we don't have as many travelers to communist countries as socialist Canada has.
What is the virus? And is it found in 100% of the SARS cases? 99% is not good enough. In fact 100% is not good enough. You have to prove causality. Has it been proven? If so, how?