The way I recall it, and I was here and in the middle of it, was that we FTs knew a lot more about SARS then what was being let on here. The TEFL China list was very active in passing information around at that time-I think we got the first warning in January, 2003. The Chinese government didn't own up until the middle of April, 2003 and only then, under direct pressure and threats from the WHO. Still, they wavered until the mayor of Beijing got sacked and the Central government gave Wu Yi (the Chinese Olympia Snowe) the task of overseeing the crisis.
Anyway, no one was sent home, no one was encouraged or even suggested to leave. In the spring of 2003, no one, not even the WHO knew how it was transmitted nor how to control transmission. Vaccines didn't and couldn't be produced because...no one knew the whys or hows of SARS.
What DID happen is that SAFEA decided to order the universities to OFFER FTs the opportunity to cancel their contracts and return home immediately (mid-semester-about May 1st) with flight costs having to be borne by the school. Believe me, the universities did NOT want to do this because it meant they had to pay flight costs NOW (one way, no discount) and students of teachers who chose the option had 6 less weeks of those FTs' classes.
No one was SENT home, and no one was "encouraged" to return home. Least of all the latter. The schools were a bit put off by it all, in fact, because it cost them extra money and hassle.
But this current situation is a whole different kettle of fish. SARS had no known cause, no known transmission method and no known vaccine (those came later, after the crisis passed on). Also, SARS was more deadly.
Alarmist claims based upon what did and didn't happen back in 03 have no place in this discussion.
