Flu virus blamed as winter deaths figure soars by 40%

THE number of people dying last winter was the second highest in recent years, it was revealed today.

There were an estimated 34,300 “exc e s s ” deaths bet ween last December and March in England and Wales — up almost 40 per cent on the previous year. Many were probably due to flu, the Office for National Statistics said. The total number was lower than the peak recorded in 2014-15, which was attributed to a failure of the flu vaccine to tackle the deadliest strains of the virus. But it was still the second highest level of the last five winters.

Women and the elderly were the worst affected, with more than a third of deaths caused by re spirator y diseases. Today’s ONS data compares the number of deaths during the four winter months with the four-month periods before December and from April to calculate “excess” deaths.

The ONS said: “The increase is likely due to the predominant strain of flu prevalent during the 2016 to 2017 winter which had greater impact on the elderly than the young.”

Last month parents were urged to get children vaccinated against flu amid fears the NHS faces its worst flu season in hi stor y. A major outbreak in Australia has caused 72 deaths.

Today’s figures come as St George’s hospital in Tooting warned its A&E is at breaking point due to the number of elderly and mental health patients.