That still doesn't mean that this isn't a contagious virus or that it isn't important to educate yourself on how to respond to a reality like this. However it exists, it is legitimately contagious.
It is, however, understanding how contagious I think is the real question.
I only say this with reference to the SARS virus as I remember when it was circulating in the city and saw people walking around with masks, notably downtown and thinking
‘what the...?!!!’ back in 2003. It was on our news
constantly and the "story" about the origin of it began making its’ rounds (someone in China ate a bat, I think). Years later, I spoke to a friend who works within the healthcare sector and confirmed that the entire SARS crisis was sensationalized by the media. She told me that it was the people in the hospitals and nursing homes who were
really at risk, not the general public, which is why they’ve now implemented antibacterial hand sanitizers at every entrance, exit and hallway in all hospitals. She said and even then, the people who worked with the ailing patients took the necessary precautions, she being one of them.
I’m sure Awoken can speak for himself, but I think he’s suggesting that there seems to be quite a bit of fear porn in the thread. Shelves were also clearing out when the entire Y2K fiasco was going on. I remember when I wanted to buy some canned tuna shortly before New Years and the entire section was completely empty because people were stocking up on canned goods as though the world was coming to an end.
My only hope is by mid-April things will have calmed down just as did with the SARS virus.