"We saw in 2003 the beginnings of an outbreak of an illness called SARS. SARS ended up killing 800 people which is a significant number of deaths, but nowhere near as high as it could have been"

This quote by Michael Burgess is describing the break out of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003. The outbreak was an international health emergency that caused 800 deaths, which is a significant number of deaths, however it could have been much worse. Citizen is stressing the significance of taking preventative procedures to consist of the spread of contagious diseases, as the death toll might have been much greater if the break out had not been included. He is also highlighting the importance of public health efforts and the requirement for governments to take action to safeguard their citizens from the spread of contagious illness. By acknowledging the capacity for a much greater death toll, Burgess is highlighting the requirement for federal governments to take proactive steps to secure their residents from the spread of transmittable diseases.