One problem is that SARS is more virulent than most flu strains. While the flu kills far more people, it isn't much risk to a young healthy person (which is why most authorities recommend that only a subset of the population needs to get flu shots). SARS, in contrast, will kill 5-10% of people with otherwise strong immune systems. This makes it a potentially greater threat (since, the natural limit to the damage it could do is much higher than for the flu).
Of course, there are plenty of less rational components to all this as well (e.g. the fact that it's new and dramatic), and I'd be the last person to claim that Americans do rational risk assessment, but I did want to point out that not all of the concern is irrational.
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timeasmymeasure
Part of the problem is that the usual defenses don't work
Date: 2003-06-24 11:12 am (UTC)Of course, there are plenty of less rational components to all this as well (e.g. the fact that it's new and dramatic), and I'd be the last person to claim that Americans do rational risk assessment, but I did want to point out that not all of the concern is irrational.