The flu in the U.S. infects 15% of inoculated adults.
Why would this virus be much different? Because the flu has already saturated the population from the previous flu season?
In part, yes, the flu has “saturated the population” and has a large number of hosts at any time. This Wu Han Virus is just getting started, has a higher transmission rate and (thus far) a substantially higher mortality rate. And it is not yet clear that it is the already health-compromised people that are dying. Since it appears to have a longish incubation period and becomes contagious before symptoms develop (so reported), it is probably far more widespread than the Chinese have acknowledged (and then there is their history of deliberate deception in these matters).
It isn’t time to panic yet, but some hunkering preparations are probably wise.