Reply #15: Not Actually

[DarthDem]

Mortality rates take into account the total number of confirmed cases, and have to estimate for those cases that resolve without a report to any medical providers or authorities. And there are likely many more cases here than have been reported. The mortality rate of the Spanish Flu in 1918 is estimated at 2.5% to 5%, worst case. There's no evidence to suggest that this is more virulent - - quite the opposite, in fact.

Citing a mortality rate that high is exactly the sort of thing that can lead people to panic. Relax a bit.