This doesn't shock me, obviously the flu is a killer, and that is why old and vulnerable people have annual vaccinations against it.

The flu virus mutates readily, and the worry of a new strain is that is transferable human to human is that there is no natural immunity in the population.

If this virus (which, it has to be said, seems at the moment to be more benign that normal seasonal flu) were to mutate into a more viralent strain then we would all be in trouble.

It hasn't happened yet, but it is still sensible to keep an eye on this as it develops. If it isn't this strain, then there will be another one at some time soon.