Flu bug blamed for 34,000 ‘excess deaths’ of elderly
RESPIRATORY diseases, including flu, claimed thousands of lives of elderly people last winter as “excess winter deaths” reached the second highest level in eight years, new figures show.
There were more than 34,000 “excess deaths” across England and Wales over the last winter period, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS said the rise “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”.
It is the second highest number of excess winter deaths since 2008/09 when there were 36,450 additional deaths observed over the winter period.
The highest number of winter deaths since then was seen in 2014/15 when the winter death toll reached almost 44,000 with the peak being attributed to a less effective flu vaccination. Last winter, 12,500 excess deaths were caused by respiratory diseases.
There were 61.9% more respiratory deaths in the winter months of 2016/17 compared with nonwinter months, ONS figures show.
Four-fifths (80.8%) of respiratory deaths were amongst those aged 75 and older.
Women were more likely than men to be affected.
Every year there is a seasonal fluctuation in deaths, with more people dying in the winter than in the summer.
The ONS measures excess winter deaths by comparing the number of deaths in the period December to March with the average number of deaths in the four month periods before and after.
Commenting on the figures, Jodie Withers, health analysis and life events at 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.”