Reply #2: Seems reasonable enough.

[Kelly Rupert]

Were there a serious (1918-style) flu pandemic, there would likely be mass chaos. People would be fleeing hotspots, afraid to engage with other people, and hoarding food and possible weapons. Civil disturbances would be possible, especially if police start fearing to go outside as well.

Were there to be a worst-case flu scenario, I would hope the government would consider bringing in soldiers to guard pharma plants/shipments, to prevent mass migration out of hotspots (therefore hastening the spread of disease and making it harder to locate people for aid), and to quell riots, exactly as the article states.

I don't really see anything here that's outside the ordinary for mass-disaster planning.