�But if we are really unlucky, and experts stress that so far this is looking unlikely, we could be witnessing the beginning of a global catastrophe that could kill tens or even hundreds of millions.�
Let's deconstruct the above statement made by Michael Hanlon in The Daily Mail...
�But if we are really unlucky,...�
I want to paint a bleak picture, so I'm going to look at the absolute worst case scenario.
�... and experts stress that so far this is looking unlikely...�
Not one �expert� wants to go on record (journalists love naming names � if you can say �Professor so and so of such and such university said...� then it lends credence to your story). Furthermore, it appears that I've been told not to over-egg the situation. Naturally, as a journalist, I will completely ignore this sage advice and continue trying to scare the pants off people...
�... we COULD be witnessing the beginning of a global catastrophe...�
But then again, we might not...
�...that COULD kill tens OR EVEN hundreds of millions�
No one has any clue about the actual numbers even assuming that the threat is a real one.
Don't panic.