I haven't detected any panic in the US at all. Some people are concerned, but nobody is wearing surgical masks or fleeing to the hills.
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.
"SARS is an interesting story, not only because of the very real panic we see in Asia, but because it is a new disease."
Not to mention the North Korea saber rattling threads just prior to the war and the comments expecting China to pop as soon as war started. And the possibility of the Indian subcontinent having some level of immunity has many intrigued.
Even beyond the molecular realm, this is frontline news. For those in the bio/med ballpark it is riveting.