[George W. Bush]

I suspect some of this hoopla has to do with researchers and health organizations seeing an opportunity for panicking their governments into financing equipment purchases and research gratns and the like.

I think SARS is serious. But, just like in the AIDS industry, there's big money and fame to be won in the midst of a deadly epidemic. These researchers and public health administrators are still normal sweaty greedy human beings, just like anybody else.

Given the sudden, almost stage-mangaged, herd-panic from researchers and public health officials, I'm almost beginning to think SARS will die out rather quickly. But not before a lot of money is funnelled into public health and SARS research.

Oh well, dedicated scientists and health officials have a mortgage to pay and luxury cars and home theater equipment to buy just like anybody else.

[InterceptPoint]

Given the sudden, almost stage-managed, herd-panic from researchers and public health officials, I'm almost beginning to think SARS will die out rather quickly. But not before a lot of money is funneled into public health and SARS research.

You have it right.

I personally expect SARS to be a big flop epidemic-wise. Time will tell. I could be wrong. I also expect it to be a big money maker for the health research community. It won't be as big as the billions that the travel industry is losing but it won't be small potatoes either.

[DBtoo]

The vast majority of true, dedicated scientists are not interested in luxury cars or home theater equipment. They normally drive old beat up cars or very small economy cars. They tend to march to a different drummer; the really bright ones that is. They do not have the salesman mentality.

[lurky]

Oh well, dedicated scientists and health officials have a mortgage to pay and luxury cars and home theater equipment to buy just like anybody else.

Hells yeah, they do. And I'd rather not see an incurable super-flu sweep over and decimate the planet, thankyouverymuch. (Paging Mr. Stephen King...)