Without detracting from the thrust of your argument.....................
SARS:
There were a total of 8,069 cases of disease and 775 deaths.
The total is being reduced / reconsidered, with the Chinese media reporting that their categorisation may have been too broad after the initial under reporting.
The initial impact on the travel and hospitality industries derived from fears generated by the lack of knowledge of its origins, causes and treatment, as well as its apparent highly contagious nature.
Interesting times for those of us working in Guangdong at the time.
Snooze