The current 5.6 percent death rate for SARS is much higher than that for the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, which was less than 1 percent, said Stoehr. But the influenza pandemic killed from 20 million to 40 million people in the world because it spread so quickly.
From Salt lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Apr/04222003/nation_w/50118.asp