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Perspective on coronavirus: How does it stack up with the flu, historic outbreaks?

Tribune-Review
| Saturday, February 29, 2020 7:01 p.m.
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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:


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