KILLER FLU
DEATHS FROM INFLUENZA ARE AT A RECORD HIGH
THE number of people dying from the flu soared to a record high last year.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that 429 people across England and Wales were directly killed by the virus in 2017.
January and February were the deadliest months, accounting for almost three quarters of all the deaths seen last year. The number of deaths was up from 332 in 2016, and is the highest seen since at least 2001, when modern records begin. That year, just 38 people died from the
flu. Almost all of the victims were pensioners - a group that’s particularly vulnerable to the flu, and at risk of serious illness or death should they catch it. The risk becomes greater the older you are, with 140 people over the age of 90 dying from the flu last year.
Despite the risks, just 73% of pensioners in England and Wales were vaccinated against the flu in 2017, leaving hundreds of thousands of elderly people unprotected.
Meanwhile, five children and teenagers were also killed by the illness last year - although it’s likely they had a pre-existing medical condition that made them more vulnerable.
Just 49% of people aged six months to 64 years old who are considered clinically at-risk got their flu jab last year.
That includes people with chronic liver, heart or respiratory disease, or conditions such asim mu no suppression and diabetes.
Clare Cook from Public Health England said: “For most people, flu is a fairly mild, self-limiting illness.
“However for some, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, it can be serious.
“Last year we did have a bad winter season with more deaths than average.
“This season we have a new improved influenza vaccine for those over 65 years of age, that further boosts the immune system. “The best thing people can do to protect themselves from flu is to take up the offer of the free flu vaccine if eligible as it is the best defence we have.” While flu is the direct cause of hundreds of deaths every year, the illness is also a contributing factor in many others. According to PHE, there were around 15,000 flu associated deaths last year, where the virus was not the underlying cause but left the victim more susceptible to other deadly health problems.