ccording to news reports, an estimated 6000, people in 27 countries are infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Since its outbreak, at least 417 people had been killed, half of them in China.

Before the outburst about SARS in the media, reports indicated that China had tried, eventually unsuccessfully, to cover up the puzzling respiratory illness. By now, following a lot of publicity, many people are aware of the disease.

However, a group of people, including a professor in the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, are of the opinion that the hype made about SARS has been much more than its effects. This is true when SARS is compared to the influenza epidemic and the current HIV/AIDS that has led to the death of millions worldwide.

So should SARS be given less attention in the media? Definitely no! Just like all human tragedies, the SARS epidemic has called the attention of the world to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world . . ." (v. 21). Praise God that the awareness SARS has received is much more than its effects. But this awareness should be channelled in the right direction. Some have already attested to the ability of SARS to reshape lives. The New York Times (May 13, 2003) quoted Xiao Gongqin, as saying: "I think this disaster will make China's leaders more modest...This crisis is forcing everyone to reflect on (their) shortcomings, and it will sharpen people's critical sense."

SARS, as well as social and political upheavals, natural calamities, disappointments of life, religious deception and persecution, etc, should keep calling our attention to the soon coming of Jesus Christ, which will bring solutions for all human problems.

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Tayo Odeyemi is director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency/Nigeria and executive director of Adventist Health International/Nigeria.