Spanish 'flu / The Birds

Why did so many people really die during the "Spanish influenza epidemic"?
http://proliberty.com/observer/20051017.htm

Is avian 'flu a hoax? Does Rumsfeld want you dead?

http://www.mercola.com/2005/oct/25/avian_flu_epidemic_is_a_hoax.htm

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2005/03/02/bird_flu_sars_biowarfare_or_a_pandemic_of_propaganda.htm

(Sorry if this is old news--it's all new to me)

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 was a bad mofo'.......the American military lost more servicemen to the flu than they did in combat.