[Chode]

[xenia]

These flu numbers were not much talked about in days past, so people have no perspective this time around. As a result its easy to spread panic.

My question.... is this the way we will react to the viruses from now on?

[glennaro]

True enough.

It's also social media (that wasn't anywhere near as omnipresent or efficient in 2009 as it is today) keeping people's fingers on the panic button.

[daniel1212]

CDC: 80,000 people died of flu last winter [2018] in U.S , highest death toll in 40 years.