Beyond Sars
Consumers in times of crisis and the impact on Greater China
Wander MeijerInternational Research Centre Asia Pacific), Hong Kong SAR
INTRODUCTION – A THREAT LOOMING
In February 2003, the media began reporting a rapidly spreading atypical pneumonia. Identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, this highly contagious disease made international news every day. An estimated 8,098 cases were reported around the world – with a total of 774 deaths attributed to the syndrome.1) The Greater China region2) accounted for 92% of all SARS cases and 89% of all fatalities.
The SARS outbreak...