funeral services

I have recently been told that it is an Islamic obligation for the mourners at a funeral to wear white. Is this claim true and does Islam put a restriction on the color of garments at a funeral? Is black a prohibited color to wear at a funeral?

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. How are we supposed to handle people who die from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)? Are we allowed to skip the Janazah (funeral rites) since the disease is extremely contagious and Muslims in general are ill-equipped and ill-trained to handle such cases in mosques and Islamic centers? Jazakum Allah khayran.