>if it's just the flu why would it risk WWIII
It's not influenza. It's like influenza.
We don't want the whole world declaring war on China for collateral damage from their attempt to fuck with American politics.
It's $40
https://blog.cheapism.com/flu-shot-cost-cvs-walgreens-walmart/
>Why did China and Iran get hit so much worse than anybody else?
Respiratory viruses tend to evolve to be less virulent over time. It's better to not make your host too sick to go out and spread it. They got the original version. Now it has evolved to be just another cold virus.