But the United States only has 965,256 staffed hospital beds, said the report from the Trust for America's Health.
The non-profit group's state-by-state analysis adds to a growing clamor of voices contending that the United States is not prepared for a large outbreak of disease, whether natural or brought on by war or terrorism.
"This is not a drill. This is not a planning exercise. This is for real," said the Trust's executive director, Shelley Hearne, in a statement.
In an average year, influenza kills an estimated 36,000 Americans and puts 200,000 into the hospital.
A more serious strain strikes every few years and a so-called pandemic strain emerges once every 27 years, on average. The more virulent strains sweep around the world within months.
Pandemics hit in 1918 -- killing up to 40 million people globally -- 1957 and 1968. Health experts all say the world is overdue for another and fear the avian flu in Asia may be it.
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I know there is a thread for this...but I wanted to make sure people saw this...we are being prepped folks
