The Flu.

Above is a graph from the CDC showing when the deaths occurred in Great Britain during the 1918 flu pandemic. The deaths occurred mostly in the months of October - December, and then again from February to March. Maybe most interesting is the 'small' spike in cases during the previous summer: in July of 1918, the first deaths occurred, and then the disease remained dormant until the next winter.

Next, think about the following statistics: According to the CDC, during the 1918 pandemic, an estimated 50 million people died. Approximately 500 million people were infected. So even during the pandemic of 1918, 90% of the people who got the flu survived.

So even 90 years ago, 90% of the infected people survived infection. Our medical treatments are significantly better today, even though they're far from ideal. Currently, the fatality rate from the oubreak in Mexico is estimated between 5 and 10 percent, but almost zero in the United States.

The graph seems to indicate that even if the current outbreak subsides, it may likely return later in the fall and winter months, but hopefully our fatality rate will be far lower due to better standards of treatment.