This flu is no joking matter, since it compares with the Spanish flu of 1918.
That one left one in three sick, of those 10-20% died. That makes 3-6% of a population dead, Some insulated placed suffered much much more.
If the USA would have 3% dead, that would be 9 million corpses, - in some months. Makes the U.S. casualties of WWI + WW2 + Korea + Vietnam + the Gulf look like a joke all put together.
It is not to be expected though, and for 2 reasons mainly. Firstly the health and feeding standard of the population, and secondly the vaccination and clinical quality compared to the war torn world in 1918.
The flu is already catchy. In my local school, 10% or more are already sick. I do not know if the virus has mutilated yet, but my little country already had it's firs victim, - 18 yr old girl.
So, I'll bloody well get vaccinated when the stuff comes, as well as at least my younger daughter, - we are the ones that have got bronchitis, so we do not take lung diseases all too well. And thumbs up for the effort that lead to the vaccine, - it's been going on for more than ten years, beginning with the hunt for the original spanish flu virus, which was finally found in Alaska.