Opinion: Coronavirus Is Not the Flu

The new coronavirus is not, by definition, a seasonal influenza, but it could already be on the road to becoming a respiratory disease that won't disappear, just like the flu. This road is very dangerous.

Seasonal flu itself is already not a minor threat. According to the World Health Organization, 5% to 10% of adults and 20% to 30% of children catch seasonal flu every year, with 3 million to 5 million severe cases and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths.