Terrifying for Asia, Worrying for the World

With the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), all fingers are pointing to China. World Health Organization Officials believe the disease spread more quickly because of China’s reluctance to admit that the disease originated in its Guangzhou region. The outbreak went undetected by international health organizations and spread through doctors and businessmen traveling in Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. With approximately 2,300 cases worldwide, and at least 80 deaths, the epidemic has the potential to turn into a major world crisis, though not only for health reasons. The economic ramifications could be just as deleterious. The diffusion of the disease through travelers has already dealt severe blows to the Asian airline and tourist industries and led to dire predictions from some economists of the region. - YaleGlobal