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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

An uncommon cold (The Independent): "A mysterious and deadly virus is spreading rapidly across the globe. What caused the outbreak? And are the right steps now being taken to contain it? Jeremy Laurance follows the trail of the disease to a Hong Kong hotel to find out." Detailed story of how this scary disease sweeping Asia got started.

Tech Sector Gets a Case of SARS (Washington Post): "SARS...cutting a lethal swath through parts of China and the Far East, as well as other cities worldwide -- is starting to affect the technology sector. Fear of the pneumonia-like illness is causing tech companies to cancel travel plans to Asia, leading to an economic dip in the region."

Economist predicts world recession (CNN):

One of Wall Street's leading economists is predicting a global recession this year, prompted in large part by fears surrounding Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the "mystery illness" with cold-like symptoms that is blamed for 78 deaths in 15 countries, CNNfn has learned. Morgan Stanley's chief economist in the United States, Stephen Roach, will formally advise clients Friday that he's forecasting a world recession in 2003. His previous forecast was for an annual growth rate of 2.5 percent. Roach told CNNfn that SARS is "just another nail on the coffin for the world economy." And slower global growth, he said, will impact U.S. exports. "You've got war, SARS, uncertainty, and imbalances that will prevail after the war is over and until a cure for the disease is found," Roach said.