[lbeltrame]

The problem is that, as far as the currently available information shows, at first the Party tried to keep things quiet, until they just couldn't.

I have a hard time imagninig something like this happening in many Western countries. It might happen, but in my view it's far more unlikely.

[yibg]

At this point it’s undeniable that the government tried to keep things quiet in the beginning and that’s not a good thing. But slow reaction to new diseases isn’t uncommon. I recall when mad cow was going around a while ago the reaction in Canada was slow as well. The desire to down play things happen at multiple levels of an organization for all sorts of reasons.

I’m not dismissing the initial attempt at cover up here and the Chinese government should seriously examine their priorities. I just think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to link this event to causing a “big disaster for whole human society”.

[lbeltrame]

Well, I wouldn't go it as far as saying "a big disaster", but I can say with confidence that a lot infections (and possibly deaths) could have been spared if the Party had chosen not to put its head in the sand.

(Disclaimer: hindsight is 20/20, of course)