Lessons From SARS: Now is the time for public health reform

Collen M. Flood, “Lessons From SARS: Now is the time for public health reform” (2003) National Post.

SARS has made public health a hot topic. But not for long. Now that SARS has passed its peak and the World Health Organization is removing its advisory against travel to Toronto, the risk of contraction will be normalized. Just as we accept the risk of West Nile virus, HIV, car accidents, and cancer, we will slowly come to accept the risk of contracting SARS. We will each do what we can to reduce the risk of acquiring the disease, of course (and support efforts to find a vaccine or cure). But life will go on much as it has always gone on before.