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It didn't kill 100k, it killed somewhere between 34k and 100k, and did so over a period of well over a year (between December 1968, which is when it became wide

It didn't kill 100k, it killed somewhere between 34k and 100k, and did so over a period of well over a year (between December 1968, which is when it became widespread in the US, to end of winter 1970 or thereabouts). In contrast, the coronavirus has killed at least 150k Americans over just five months. The wikipedia page for the H3N2 pandemic also lists reasons as to why the death toll wasn't much higher: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_flu#Mortality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_flu#Mortality Specifically: "The pandemic did not gain momentum until near the winter school holidays, thus limiting the infection's spread." If you think about it, this is the opposite scenario of today: our second wave is gaining momentum, and... we're reopening schools.

protomyth 6y ago
The CDC says about 100,000 in the US https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1968-pandemic.html https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1968-pandemic.htm... I don't think the CDC is lying to me.
- enraged_camel 6y ago
  Also the CDC: https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=15874 https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=15874 That's why the wikipedia page I linked says "between 34,000 and 100,000" -- it cites the CDC. P.S. The fact that you completely ignored everything else I said is duly noted.
  - protomyth 6y ago
    I ignored everything else because I've learned on HN to not bother going forward unless people agree on numbers. Its useless and we will just talk past each other. Frankly, just as useless as when people add snarky PS and put other's on notice. and dragonwriter is responding to you and I'd rather not get in his way
dragonwriter 6y ago
> If you think about it, this is the opposite scenario of today: our second wave is gaining momentum No, it's not..we're still in the first wave. Second wave is an illusion due to NYC’s high and early peak.

protomyth 6y ago

The CDC says about 100,000 in the US https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1968-pandemic.html https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1968-pandemic.htm... I don't think the CDC is lying to me.

enraged_camel 6y ago
Also the CDC: https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=15874 https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=15874 That's why the wikipedia page I linked says "between 34,000 and 100,000" -- it cites the CDC. P.S. The fact that you completely ignored everything else I said is duly noted.
- protomyth 6y ago
  I ignored everything else because I've learned on HN to not bother going forward unless people agree on numbers. Its useless and we will just talk past each other. Frankly, just as useless as when people add snarky PS and put other's on notice. and dragonwriter is responding to you and I'd rather not get in his way

dragonwriter 6y ago

> If you think about it, this is the opposite scenario of today: our second wave is gaining momentum No, it's not..we're still in the first wave. Second wave is an illusion due to NYC’s high and early peak.