^ Tragic for the family indeed. Though people should remember that EVERY year an average of 35,000 people die from the 'flu in the USA. That this 'flu would eventually kill people in the USA is an inevitability. Normal 'flu case fatality rate is approx 0.6%. As more information becomes available about the number of people falling ill it will become clearer whether the case fatality rate for this strain will be greater or the same as usual.
As hsrob says though, less population immunity would mean greater morbidity which would mean more deaths than average, even though this strain may be no more pathogenic than the average strain.
I heard one hypothesis from a medical academic that older people's immune systems, having been exposed to more 'flu in their longer lives and having had multiple 'flu jabs, and possibly having had more exposure to previous pig 'flu virus strains that did not jump the species barrier may make them less susceptible to this strain than the under 45 age demographic. But that is pure speculation for why there was an odd pattern of deaths being reported from Mexico.
This US death, sadly, fits more the typical profile of 'flu fatalities. A friend's 4 year old child died of 'flu a few years ago.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
