30,000 Americans die of the flue every year. It is now almost may and this strain has killed 81 Mexicans.
Can I sell you some stuff for Y2K? you might need it again in 3000.
The flu annually kills 30K very old and usually very sick people with otherwise compromised immune systems. When the very healthy start to succumb to the flue, it quickly gets the attention of people who work with communicable diseases for a living.