Updated Data in 2022: How Many People Die From The Flu?
Two years post the COVID-19 outbreak, the world's healthcare system has recuperated from the jolt, and the travel and social distancing restrictions have been eased. However, the flu still poses a threat because it continues to be deadly for people.
Individuals born more recently have a lower likelihood of dying from influenza as compared to previous generations.
Though the risk of dying from the flu has diminished over time, hundreds of thousands of people globally still succumb to the illness each year. During a pandemic, the death rate increases even more as the flu strains undergo rapid evolution. However, with the advancements in medical equipment, healthcare, and vaccination, the risk of dying from the flu has significantly reduced over time.
Individuals born more recently have a reduced chance of dying from influenza. Despite experiencing several peaks in influenza mortality over the past 20 years, these havens have been effectively controlled and have sustained a general downward trend. Drawing on the influenza mortality rate of individuals born in 1940 as a point of reference (1%), the threat to those born in 1860 was twice as high as those born in 1940 and more than seven times higher than those born today.
How many lives are claimed by seasonal influenza?
Determining the precise number of influenza deaths is a complicated task as its symptoms often mimic those of other diseases. Another issue is that influenza can trigger mortality indirectly through respiratory complications such as pneumonia, cardiovascular disturbances such as heart attacks, or other severe infections.
Research indicates that 294,000 to 518,000 individuals die annually due to seasonal influenza, globally, between 2002-2011. These numbers only consider the number of people who die from respiratory infections. Therefore, these figures do not account for flu deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, which might distort the overall mortality count.
The graph underneath reflects estimates of flu mortality among individuals aged above 65, demonstrated as deaths per 100,000 people. In Southeast Asia and Africa, influenza claims the lives of 71.2 and 63.9 individuals above 65 every year, respectively. The rate in the United States is almost identical to the world average, clocking in at 53.6 deaths per 100,000 people, contrasting with 30.8 deaths per 100,000 citizens in Europe. It's worth noting that this provides a regional average, and in some developing countries, the mortality rate may be higher.
Age plays a crucial role in determining the likelihood of an individual's life being claimed by influenza.
Infants and the elderly are exposed to a much higher risk of respiratory illnesses, including influenza, than young adults. The chance of influenza mortality expands drastically beyond the age of 20, similar to most diseases. To illustrate this point, a 60-year-old has 10 times more exposure to influenza mortality than a 20-year-old.
Alongside age, the caliber of healthcare, variability in influenza strains, and vaccination are vital factors. In terms of seasonal influenza prevention, vaccination is an incredibly effective method. For young children and the elderly, the preferred time for vaccinating individuals is during the warmer seasons of the year. Every year, influenza vaccinations are updated to accommodate the strains that are most likely to disseminate during the winter. While not ideal, receiving vaccinations ahead of winter is far more advantageous than getting vaccinated post the influenza pandemic.
References
1. Our World in Data, “How many people die from the flu?”.
