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Depends on the flu, and on how effective that year's flu vaccine is. The 1918-1919 flu had its highest mortality rate in the young adult range, where it was un

Depends on the flu, and on how effective that year's flu vaccine is. The 1918-1919 flu had its highest mortality rate in the young adult range, where it was unquestionably higher than covid-19 (although the lack of PCR tests or equivalent back then make it difficult to arrive at precise numbers infected). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu#Epidemiology_and_pathology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu#Epidemiology_and_p...

kupiakos 5y ago
Comparing modern death rates to the 1919 flu, and to historical smallpox infection, is not useful. Medical technology has come a long way in a century and so average mortality rates have dropped for all diseases. 2019 and 2020 had particularly dangerous flu seasons and were still significantly less deadly than COVID.
- jjk166 5y ago
  The 2020-2021 flu season was the mildest flu season on record. In the US, there were only about 700 influenza deaths in the 20-21 season, compared to 22,000 in the 19-20 season, and 34,000 in the 18-19 season. Similar trends were seen around the world. [0] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-has-disappeared-worldwide-during-the-covid-pandemic1/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-has-disappear...
- rossdavidh 5y ago
  2019-20 and 2020-21 were both actually milder flu seasons than normal, I believe you might have been thinking of the 2018-19 flu season? https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html Also, the principal advantage modern medicine had in these flu seasons, compared to 1918-1919, was that we had an effective vaccine for the most at-risk population to take, and the most at-risk were not the ones most likely to be out and about working. I've never seen a convincing explanation of why the 1918-1919 flu hit young adults the hardest, but whatever the reason, we're really lucky covid-19 did not work that way.
- elzbardico 5y ago
  Yes, modern technology have improved health care, but also increased the avenues of spread.

kupiakos 5y ago

Comparing modern death rates to the 1919 flu, and to historical smallpox infection, is not useful. Medical technology has come a long way in a century and so average mortality rates have dropped for all diseases. 2019 and 2020 had particularly dangerous flu seasons and were still significantly less deadly than COVID.

jjk166 5y ago
The 2020-2021 flu season was the mildest flu season on record. In the US, there were only about 700 influenza deaths in the 20-21 season, compared to 22,000 in the 19-20 season, and 34,000 in the 18-19 season. Similar trends were seen around the world. [0] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-has-disappeared-worldwide-during-the-covid-pandemic1/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-has-disappear...
rossdavidh 5y ago
2019-20 and 2020-21 were both actually milder flu seasons than normal, I believe you might have been thinking of the 2018-19 flu season? https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html Also, the principal advantage modern medicine had in these flu seasons, compared to 1918-1919, was that we had an effective vaccine for the most at-risk population to take, and the most at-risk were not the ones most likely to be out and about working. I've never seen a convincing explanation of why the 1918-1919 flu hit young adults the hardest, but whatever the reason, we're really lucky covid-19 did not work that way.
elzbardico 5y ago
Yes, modern technology have improved health care, but also increased the avenues of spread.