SARS is an interesting story, not only because of the very real panic we see in Asia, but because it is a new disease. Nobody knew what it was or how deadly or communicable it was. We still don't have a lot of answers. Since we don't, some people predict doomsday, and others deny that the illness even exists.
We don't have a quick or reliable test for illness yet, and that makes quantifying the risks virtually impossible today. So, everyone gets to have an opinion without the benefit of many facts.
It makes for a fascinating story to watch.