My pet theory is that chronic disease like obesity, combined with pre-existing immunity, and possibly some correlation to vitamin-d deficiency explains most of how this has played out.
Factor in a glut of people who're living into advanced age, due to the progress of medical technology, so naturally in a precarious place against any infection. And of course, mismanagement of those people in nursing homes means guaranteed disaster.
So really, I think it's much less dangerous than we've let on, but deadly to certain demographics, that happen to be larger in the West (obese, diabetic, etc.).
Factor in a glut of people who're living into advanced age, due to the progress of medical technology, so naturally in a precarious place against any infection. And of course, mismanagement of those people in nursing homes means guaranteed disaster.
So really, I think it's much less dangerous than we've let on, but deadly to certain demographics, that happen to be larger in the West (obese, diabetic, etc.).