[glouwbug]

This is juxtaposition, a form of literary style. He is sarcastically downplaying the _flu_ in comparison to the world wars because the _flu_ is already significantly lesser than the holocaust or an atomic bomb landing in Japan.

[abfan1127]

except the Spanish Flu killed more than World War 1 and 2 combined (est. 50 million dead from Spanish Flu)...

[vonmoltke]

World War II alone killed 70MM - 85MM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties

Also, 50MM for the Spanish flu is the top end of reasonable estimates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu#Around_the_globe

[abfan1127]

you're right. Thanks for the correction.