I want to tell you what a farce these 'epidemics' are that the media is reporting to everyone. First West Nile Virus, now SARS. And the folks who buy into the B.S. make it worse, like Billy Joel and Elton John who canceled their recent concert in Canada because of SARS. Here are some real numbers from the Centers from Disease Control www.cdc.gov and WWW.WebMD.com:

1) Influenza types A or B viruses cause epidemics of disease almost every winter. In the United States, these winter influenza epidemics can cause illness in 10% to 20% of people and are associated with an average of 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations per year.

2) So far since Nov. 16, 2002 SARS cases are: 5,050 worldwide and 321 deaths

3) West Nile Virus The mosquito-borne disease emerged in New York City in 1999, where it caused 62 cases of encephalitis -- swelling of the brain -- that killed seven people. There were only 21 cases and two deaths last year -- partly due to aggressive mosquito-control efforts and partly due to a cool, wet summer in the northeastern states where it had spread.

Does either one of the SARS or West Nile Virus numbers sound like much of an epidemic compared to the flu? Do you hear people panic stricken over the flu? Do people cancel their plans because of the flu??

COME ON FOLKS, GET A GRIP!! This is media hype devised to sell newspapers and get you to watch the news. When everyone gets over their obsession with the war, they have to start something new to keep you involved and make money on the advertisements that go with the story!

Go outside, breathe the air , get some exercise, turn off the TV. If you feel the way I do, forward this message to others to let them know how rediculous it is to fear this 'epidemic'.