Influenza has the potential to infect many people quickly. Although the death rate for seasonal flu is probably only around 1% of those affected, when the numbers so affected run into millions, as they do in India, the number of people who die will also be large.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/panic-pandemic
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/economic-and-political-weekly
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health-care
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health-policy
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/viral-diseases
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/influenza
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/information
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/media
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/who
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/india
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/swine-flu