Some flu strains are deadlier than others

It is becoming clear that what is supposed to protect us from the flu, our own immune system, plays a major role in killing us. Thus, a strong immune response, called “cytokine storm” can lead to inflammation, sepsis, failure of several organs, and death.

From Scripps Research Institute:

“Cytokine storm is now seen as a likely major cause of mortality in the 1918-20 “Spanish flu”—which killed more than 50 million people worldwide—and the H1N1 “swine flu” and H5N1 “bird flu” of recent years. In these epidemics, the patients most likely to die were relatively young adults with apparently strong immune reactions to the infection—whereas ordinary seasonal flu epidemics disproportionately affect the very young and the elderly.” 
 
There are reports that this year, the flu again kills through causing extreme immune response, cytokine storm and sepsis. 

Therefore, it is timely that a novel inexpensive approach to fighting sepsis has been published in the past year. The treatment regimen utilizes hydrocortisone, vitamin C, and thiamine to counteract sepsis and its complication, septic shock.