kat:
    Sorry about the dysfunctional post above.

    My apologies to all of the pandas who may have been offended by my earlier comment. (Seriously, when making a comment about China that requires an analogy to a particular animal indigenous to that nation, what better than the panda?)

After spending thirty years in various and sundry emergency rooms, ICUs, infectious disease wards and the like, I cannot help but be put off by the public's inordinate fear of these bugs. Hygiene, hand washing, common sense, symptomatic treatment and judicious use of antibiotics where appropriate will deal with the problem (Anthrax, what Anthrax?).

. . . . But it sure is a great way to sell newspapers . . . .