> The problem is that the west has nobody in power with living memory of a pandemic. [...] there hasn't been a pandemic in the west in over 100 years...
Also just to point out, for 2009 Swine flu pandemic, we had vaccines (effective 43%) and antiviral treatments can significantly help. This time since COVID-19 is a novel virus, we have nothing.
Recent counter-example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic_in_the_Unite...
Key stats:
* global cases: 700 million - 1.4 billion
* global deaths: 150,000–575,000
* US cases: 60.8 million
* US deaths: 12,469
A few more counter-examples can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics
(Edit: added key stats)