Magazine

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News focus

Editors sound the SARS alarm bells

Mediawatch: Lethal virus outbreaks may help sell newspapers but identify the causative agent(s) of
Bernard Dixon finds that the early response from journalists to the SARS, revealed a less excitable
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been more informed tone overall. Indeed, the Daily
than in many previous scares with diseases resulting from other Mirror’s headline ‘DON’T PANIC’
dangerous viruses. contrasted oddly with Science’s
‘Scientists chase fast-moving and
‘Does this virus have the power to the novel form of pneumonia deadly global illness’ and The
conquer the whole world?’ was which emerged in the Guangdong Pharmaceutical Journal’s ‘SARS
how the Daily Express flagged one province of southern China last — a worldwide threat’.
of its first articles on the virus(es) November was no exception. As As with the approach taken by
responsible for severe acute cases later came to light in Hong The Times, it was often the
respiratory syndrome (SARS). ‘As Kong and further afield, images and headlines rather than
if war and terrorism were not unnecessary hyperbole became the articles themselves that
enough, a terrified world now has the most conspicuous media betokened alarm. One issue of the
a new threat to contend with — a theme. Even a carefully balanced Daily Mail carried no less than four
mystery illness that is spreading review in The Times was heralded photographs of nine people
around the world from the Orient,’ by ‘The genie is out of the bottle’, wearing facemasks as they arrived
said the Daily Mail. ‘The ‘KILLER PNEUMONIA’ and a at Heathrow airport from Hong
symptoms are horrible, it can kill whole-page colour photograph of Kong. Meanwhile The Times’s
and there is no cure.’ a masked and hooded man. resident medico Thomas
Epidemics and emerging Yet a considered assessment of Stuttaford explained that such
pathogens are invariable media coverage over the first masks were unlikely to afford any
enticements for journalists, and weeks, as virologists sought to significant protection. And Jeremy

Precautions: While the photographs of mask-clad figures in Hong Kong and other regions of the Far East have been dramatic, reports
of the severe acute respiratory syndrome and the hunt for the virus causing it mostly managed to avoid arousing panic amongst their
readers, as in this piece in the UK’s Observer earlier this month.
Current Biology Vol 13 No 9
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Laurance, despatched to the think it is a single coronavirus — a demands as being unreasonable

epicentre of the epidemic in superstrong version of the and inconvenient. The WHO press
Guangzhou, the provincial capital common cold. But others are office, once a graveyard for
of Guangdong, found that no-one suggesting that SARS is a pair of journalistic enquiries, is now
was wearing one. viruses.’ To make matters worse, efficient and helpful. And
The majority of journalists dealt a later passage in the same article authorities such as John Oxford in
with the underlying uncertainties read: ‘Tests have been devised to the UK have made themselves
of the story rather well. Using test for the coronavirus: you can widely available for comments.
information from national have it, yet not have SARS. And Contrast all of this with the
laboratories and the World Health some people who have had SARS hysteria that developed in Britain
Organization, they reported the do not have any trace of the seven years ago when a ‘flesh-
initial pinpointing of the causative coronavirus.’ eating virus’ (actually a
agent as a paramyxovirus, the An unusual aspect of media haemolytic Streptococcus
subsequent implication of a coverage of the epidemic has pyogenes) was said to be
coronavirus and later suggestions been the many articles on its ‘rampaging around the country’ (it
that both organisms may be potential financial consequences. wasn’t), causing a condition
involved. ‘Is the world economy in danger of called necrotising fasciitis that
Even the identification catching a nasty cold from the was both untreatable (it wasn’t)
techniques used, from simple deadly flu-like virus hitting Asia?’ and hitherto unknown to medical
morphology under the electron asked The Independent. ‘Growth science (it wasn’t). On that
microscope to serology and projections for key economies in occasion, part of the blame could
sequence studies, were the Pacific Rim are being slashed. be laid at the doors of those
explained. So too were possible Conferences, concerts and organisations which were so
modes of spread, from initial summits are being cancelled in repelled by the sensational
assumptions of airborne growing numbers. The WHO has fashion in which the media were
transmission to later suspicions advised a ban on all non-essential covering the story that they
that direct person-to-person travel to Hong Kong and China’s disappeared into the long grass
contact or fomites were more Guangdong province ... And at (Current Biology (1996) 6, 493).
important. least one nation — Thailand — Their reticence was at least one
Several newspapers and and one airline — KLM — have reason why these and other media
broadcasters also addressed suggested that the impact of the errors appeared not just once but
practical issues likely to be of virus could prove to be greater repeatedly over a whole week.
concern to their readers. They than that of the war in Iraq.’ This time, with a genuinely new
explained, for example, that the One lesson from this still- and threatening organism to deal
death rate was similar to that of incomplete story is the value to with, all sides have done a far
influenza — but that elderly journalists of those centres and better job.
persons and those with heart, experts who have answered
lung and other chronic conditions questions and speculated on the Bernard Dixon is the European editor for
were at particular risk. Although significance of the outbreak, the American Association of
no specific treatments were rather than rejecting media Microbiology.
available, prompt hospitalisation,
oxygen therapy and nursing care
could save the lives of vulnerable US model pushed for UK managers
individuals.
Less impressive were those Welcome budget increases are promised for Britain’s science base but,
newspaper, radio and TV according to a new report, the country’s research managers need a
correspondents who failed to new approach if they are to make the best use of any increased
distinguish between the disease resources. Nigel Williams reports.
and the organism(s) responsible
for it. The Sun talked of ‘the killer Britain’s science base faces one Technology of weak management,
bug SARS’. ‘Laboratories across of the rosiest funding futures in and claims the new Research
the world renewed their efforts to Europe with promised government Councils UK (RCUK) strategy
identify the elusive virus known as boosts in spending but a new group lacks power.
SARS,’ said The Daily Telegraph. report argues that there are major The report raises questions
‘The disease, since named SARS, problems with the senior about how the DTI will manage its
is believed to be a virulent form of management of the funds and that increased science budget, which
coronavirus — a lethal cousin of the US offers a better model of is set to rise from £2 billion this
the common cold,’ said The how things should be done. year to almost £3 billion in 2005–6.
Sunday Times. The report, commissioned by The report claims there is no real
Even more confusing was an the Centre for Policy Studies in analysis of how science funding is
article in The Independent on London accuses the Department used and whether it is used
Sunday which told readers: of Trade and Industry, the ministry successfully.
‘Experts are still puzzling over in charge of the science budget, “Britain’s science is in a poor
how SARS progresses. Some and its Office of Science and state. This is not because our