SARS hysteria
“Fear has taken hold: 45,000 face masks have been sold by one supplier alone, and the masks are expected to double in price as the Sars virus crisis deepens. But this is not Hong Kong, China or Singapore, where the killer bug has claimed more than 200 lives. This panic buying is taking place in Scotland.”
“Wearing a face mask, even in an affected area, is likely to do little good, say the CDC and the WHO. The surgical-type face masks seen on the streets of Hong Kong are little help, the CDC has said, although people who suspect they have SARS should wear them to protect others.”
For more info, see the CDC SARS page.
Hey, maybe Detroit could market special versions of their armored passenger cars, with biohazard suits, masks, and filtered oxygen at every seat.