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SARS 2

New concerns over a new virus.

For those of you who were working back when SARS first showed up — it was a very disconcerting time. Health-care workers were impacted significantly and there were a number of deaths.

Now there is a new concern, see Why China’s Mystery Illness Is Reviving Fears of SARS. There is enough worry that that the World Health Organization is convening a meeting specifically to address the threat of this new virus. 

Unlike our natural disasters that are confined to one segment of our jurisdiction for events like floods or a tornado, medical disasters are bigger than earthquakes or hurricanes. Everyone may not be impacted, but everyone is threatened and worried about the impacts. It is why pandemic flu is the worst disaster we can have. Everyone can be a victim!

Don't be thinking that this is only a medical issue. If and when SARS 2 becomes widespread and deadly, we will all be involved in the response. 

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.