[HiTech RedNeck]

So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?

[Past Your Eyes]

I believe it’s time to panic.

[Past Your Eyes]

I remember the Asian flu of 1957. Of 7 in the family, only my mother and my oldest brother didn't get it. The rest of us were sick for a week but I don't remember being real sick.

[Jim Noble]

So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?

Well, that's the question on which all proper policy turns.

But right now, there's no answer, and there won't be one soon.

To know the death rate, you need to know the number of cases. Right now, the case definition involves confirmation at a lab in Atlanta. You can imagine how many specimens they can process in a day, or in a week. This isn't the Jack Bauer flu, where CDC can do its thing in 15 minutes.

Mexico has confirmed 26 cases. If that's true (and I'm sure it isn't) their death rate is 7/26, one of the highest ever recorded for influenza.

For the present, the mortality will appear higher than it really is.

To me, the salient fact, and what's important, is the number of confirmed deaths in the 25-45 year old age band. Compared to "other flus", these people shouldn't die at all. The fact that some have justifies some possible overreaction, at least in my mind.

[mewzilla]

Around 36,000 Americans are killed a year by the various usual flu strains, IIRC.

[BobL]

“So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?”

No one in the US died from Hurricane Ike either...that is until it hit land.

[Netizen]

So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?

Considering that flu season is generally 8 months long, i'd say a week into this one is a bit early to make comparisons. jmo

[hsalaw]

So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?

1 vs. 36,000 annually. And I heard on Fox that it was a Mexican toddler whose family was "visiting" from Mexico City. Have they renamed this the "Mexican flu" yet?