" I don't know how many people were "worried" in this case."

I think that's the thing about irrationality. If the media hype is strong enough anyone's brain can be taken over.

I remember very clearly the anthrax scare. I remember consciously thinking about anthrax when receiving envelopes at the business when that happened. I knew it was irrational but it was nearly impossible to fight those thoughts until the media attention died down.