By John
Hinderaker | POWERLINE
I prepared the chart below to put the current hysteria
over the Wuhan virus in perspective. It presents simple data in a simple
fashion.
The first column shows average global influenza deaths per season, according
to the Centers
for Disease Control. CDC offered a range of 291,000 to 646,000; the column
represents the midpoint of that range.
The second column is flu deaths
suffered in the U.S. in the 2017-2018 season, i.e. two years ago. CNN
reported that number, citing CDC, as 80,000, but the current CDC site
shows a lower figure of 61,000 deaths, which I have used here.
The third column shows deaths in the U.S.
from COVID-19. It is there, but you can’t see it yet. The
fourth column shows worldwide deaths from COVID-19, as reported by the World
Health Organization.
Will global deaths from COVID-19
eventually equal the average worldwide total for a flu season, or will the
COVID-19 toll here in the U.S. equal the relatively harsh flu season of two
years ago? They might or might not; I will continue to update the chart periodically.
One thing we can say with certainty is that the COVID-19 hype quotient is
astronomical.
