The figure of 152 for deaths was suspected cases that were being...

The figure of 152 for deaths was suspected cases that were being tested. Only in the newspapers was the figure of 152 deaths due to the flu stated.

The 1918-1920 flu evolved from a low severity illness (that they questioned whether it was the flu) to extremely lethal where between 2 and 5% of the worlds population died.

There are a lot of very good web sites out there on the flu and a lot of books on the 1918 flu. Also a lot of rubbish.

Following was cut from one of the good ones:

"so we should have seen a death in the US by now. There may still be reason for optimism."

No, I don't think that's accurate. The sample space of people infected in the US is very small and variation from the CFR in Mexico can be easily explained as a sampling fluke.

At this point, there is no reason to think the CFR in the US will be any different than that in Mexico (although it is possible that the US might be able to provide better medical care). Besser essentially told everyone this when he said the US should prepare for severe cases and deaths.


Mal