As figures stand now, the new coronavirus disease — Covid-19 — is 20- to 40-times more deadly than the typical flu, depending on where you are in the world.
Experts agree that it will eventually spread everywhere. The case-fatality ratio also could drop as more data becomes available.
Putting it into perspective
Typical flu season
Death toll: 290,000 to 650,000; 12,000 to 61,000 in U.S.*
Fatality rate: 0.1% (1 death per 1,000 cases)
*= Annual estimates from 2010-19
Covid-2019
Death toll: 2,867; none in U.S.**
Fatality rate: 2-4%**
**= Data gathered to date
2009 swine flu
Death toll: 575,000; 12,500 in U.S.
Fatality rate: <0.1%
2003 SARS outbreak
Death toll: 774; none in U.S.
Fatality rate: 9.6%***
***= From 8,100 confirmed cases
1968 Hong Kong flu
Death Toll: 1 million (500,000 in Hong Kong); 100,000 in U.S.
Fatality rate: 0.5%
1957 Asian flu
Death toll: 1.1 million; 116,000 in U.S.
Fatality rate: .67%
1918 Spanish flu
Death toll: 50-100 million; 675,000 in U.S.
Fatality rate: 2.5%
Sources: CDC, World Health Organization, STAT, Pathogens journal
