I've been bed-bound with the 'flu for about 5 days now, and as my ability to string words together returned, I got to wondering what it was about the flu that killed people?

I'm about 95% sure I'll be firing on all cylinders by the start of next week with not much more than some painkillers, bed rest and lots of fluids and soup, though with what is admittedly an unhealthy drop in bodyweight.

Why did people die of influenza so much in the past?