Acutally, flu (influenza) is a deadly disease that cause thousands of deaths each year in the country and many more around the world.
Many people in the US use the terms "flu" and "cold" interchangably. I've had both, and yes, the cold is not as bad as the flu. However, I'm still here, as well as everyone else I know that's had the flu..
Many people die every year from complications after having the flu. The flu opens the way for bacterial pneumonia from which the weak never recover. That is why the elderly are advised to get a flu shot.