I've read a lot of disaster novels in my time. I think it started because I liked reading science fiction, and some of the disaster novels fell into that category. Eventually I got hooked on reading disaster fiction, and I've read them all! So it is with great trepidation and a sense of the surreal that I listen to news reports of the SARS epidemic lately.

There are any number of disaster novels out there with the theme of humanity being almost wiped out by an epidemic which starts in a similar way to the path SARS is taking. Starting small, gettting bigger, spreading farther and faster through air travel, and usually with a virus that we've never heard of or have had no trouble with before. It is just eerie to see what's happening with SARS. In my opinion, which is not an expert opinion but more a somewhat informed opinion, the WHO and CDC are doing all the right things. I've been impressed by the actions they are taking to prevent spread of the illness. I've been dismayed by China's reaction, covering it up and only now coming clean about numbers of cases. I know that Canada is upset that WHO put out a travel advisory saying not to travel to Toronto, but I think they are doing the right thing. In a situation like this, what stops it from being a disaster is taking quick decisive action, limiting the spread of the disease. To err and not fully implement prevention policies is to set us up for more problems down the road.

Why are viruses the most scary thing? Because antibiotics won't cure the diseases they cause, unlike bacterial infections. We have no cure for SARS; all that can be done is to treat the symptoms. And prevent spread of the virus. And hope that's enough to keep us from appearing to mimic the plot line of a diaster novel.