The burden of influenza in the United States can vary from year to year depending on which viruses are circulating, how many people receive an influenza vaccination, and how effective the vaccination is in that particular year. During the 2023-2024 flu season, around 28,000 people lost their lives to the disease. Although most people recover from influenza without needing medical care, the disease can be deadly among young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses. Deaths due to influenza Even though most people recover from influenza without medical care, influenza and pneumonia can be deadly, especially for older people and those with certain preexisting conditions. Influenza is a common cause of pneumonia and although most cases of influenza do not develop into pneumonia, those that do are often more severe and more deadly. Deaths due to influenza are most common among the elderly, with a mortality rate of around 32 per 100,000 population during the 2023-2024 flu season. In comparison, the mortality rate for those aged 50 to 64 years was 9.1 per 100,000 population. Flu vaccinations The most effective way to prevent influenza is to receive an annual influenza vaccination. These vaccines have proven to be safe and are usually cheap and easily accessible. Nevertheless, every year a large share of the population in the United States still fails to get vaccinated against influenza. For example, in the 2022-2023 flu season, only 35 percent of those aged 18 to 49 years received a flu vaccination. Unsurprisingly, children and the elderly are the most likely to get vaccinated. It is estimated that during the 2022-2023 flu season, vaccinations prevented over 929 thousand influenza cases among children aged 6 months to 4 years.

The mortality rate from influenza in the United States is by far highest among those aged 65 years and older. During the 2023-2024 flu season, the mortality rate from influenza for this age group was around 32.1 per 100,000 population. The burden of influenza The impact of influenza in the U.S. varies from season to season, but in the 2023-2024 flu season, there were an estimated 40 million cases. These cases resulted in around 470,000 hospitalizations. Although most people recover from influenza without requiring medical treatment, the disease can be deadly for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses. During the 2023-2024 flu season, around 28,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives due to influenza. Impact of vaccinations The most effective way to prevent influenza is to receive an annual vaccination at the beginning of flu season. Flu vaccines are safe and can greatly reduce the burden of the disease. During the 2022-2023 flu season, vaccinations prevented around 2,479 deaths among those aged 65 years and older. Although flu vaccines are usually cheap and easily accessible, every year a large share of the population in the U.S. still does not get vaccinated. For example, during the 2022-2023 flu season, only about 35 percent of those aged 18 to 49 years received a flu vaccination.

Influenza and pneumonia caused around 10.9 deaths in the U.S. per 100,000 population in 2023. Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection that is highly contagious and especially common in the winter season. Influenza is a common cause of pneumonia, although most cases of the flu do not develop into pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation of the lungs and is particularly deadly among young children and the elderly. Influenza cases Influenza is very common in the United States, with an estimated 40 million cases reported in 2023-2024. Common symptoms of the flu include cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and headache. Symptoms can be mild but can also be severe enough to require medical attention. In 2023-2024, there were around 18 million influenza-related medical visits in the United States. Prevention To prevent contracting the flu, people can take everyday precautions such as regularly washing their hands and avoiding those who are sick, but the best way to prevent the flu is by receiving the flu vaccination every year. Receiving a flu vaccination is especially important for young children and the elderly, as they are most susceptible to flu complications and associated death. In 2024, around 70 percent of those aged 65 years and older received a flu vaccine, while only 33 percent of those aged 18 to 49 years had done so.

Deaths counts for influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19 reported to NCHS by week ending date, by state and HHS region, and age group.

Influenza, also called the flu, is one of the most infectious diseases worldwide. Its symptoms range from mild to severe, and include sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, headache, and muscle pain, but can also cause severe illness and death among high-risk populations such as the elderly and children. During the 2023-2024 flu season, there were 40 million cases of influenza in the United States. Influenza deaths Although influenza does not require medical attention for most people, it can be deadly, and causes thousands of deaths every year. The impact of influenza varies from year to year. The number of influenza deaths during the 2023-2024 flu season was 27,965. The vast majority of deaths attributed to influenza during the 2023-2024 flu season occurred among those aged 65 years and older. Vaccination An annual influenza vaccination remains the most effective way of preventing influenza. During the 2022-2023 flu season, influenza vaccinations prevented an estimated 2,479 deaths among U.S. adults aged 65 years and older. Although, flu vaccinations are accessible and cheap, a large share of the United States population still fails to get vaccinated every year. In 2022-2023, only 35 percent of those aged 18 to 49 years received a flu vaccination, much lower compared to children and the elderly.

Australia Influenza Mortality jumped by 8% in 2019, from a year earlier.

The flu is estimated to cause 400,000 respiratory deaths each year on average across the world. These deaths come from pneumonia and other respiratory symptoms caused by the flu. People also die from other complications of the flu – such as a stroke or heart attack – but global estimates have not been made of their death toll. The Spanish flu caused the largest influenza pandemic in history. Yet, data on the flu is limited. With better testing, countries could improve their response to flu epidemics. It could help to rapidly identify new strains, detect epidemics early, and design better-matched vaccines to target flu strains circulating in the population.

this data set contains the vaccine coverage around the world from 2018 to 2022.

this graph was created in OurDataWorld:

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Think about someone dying from extreme temperatures. You probably pictured someone passing out from heat stroke or dying from hypothermia.

But this is not how most people die from “heat”. They die from conditions such as cardiovascular or kidney disease, respiratory infections, or diabetes.1

Almost no one has “heat” or “cold” written on their death certificate, but sub-optimal temperatures lead to a large number of premature deaths. As we’ll see later, researchers estimate that it kills several million every year.

Older populations are usually most vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Most deaths occur in people older than 65. It’s important to consider what "death" means here and how deaths from extreme temperatures might compare to other causes. Being too hot or cold can increase our risk of developing certain health conditions or worsen existing ones. It can thereby lead to an earlier death than would have occurred if the temperatures were “optimal”.

How much time do hot or cold conditions take off someone’s life? It’s difficult to give precise estimates. One method that researchers often use is to look at excess death rates — which measure how many more people die in a given year compared to an “average” year — in a particularly warm or cold year. Looking at patterns of excess deaths gives some indication of whether temperature-related deaths were “brought forward” significantly or not.

A study by Nirandeep Rehill and colleagues examined death patterns in the United Kingdom over 50 years.2 It found that most cold-related deaths were among people who would not have died in the next 6 months. A later study looked at the impacts of high and low temperatures across a much larger sample of countries.3 It found that most temperature-related deaths reduced lifespans for at least one year. Most people died at least one year earlier, although there would be some that did lose less than this.

In this article, I will examine how many people die from heat and cold each year and how researchers estimate these numbers. In a follow-up article, I’ll look at how these risks could change in the future due to climate change.

A quick note on terminology: I will use the term “temperature-related deaths” from this point forward to refer to the combination of deaths from heat and cold conditions. When I use the term “heat”, I mean warm or hot.

This file contains the complete set of data reported to 122 Cities Mortality Reposting System. The system was retired as of 10/6/2016. While the system was running each week, the vital statistics offices of 122 cities across the United States reported the total number of death certificates processed and the number of those for which pneumonia or influenza was listed as the underlying or contributing cause of death by age group (Under 28 days, 28 days - 1 year, 1-14 years, 15-24 years, 25-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-74 years, 75-84 years, and - 85 years). U:Unavailable. - : No reported cases.* Mortality data in this table were voluntarily reported from 122 cities in the United States, most of which have populations of >100,000. A death is reported by the place of its occurrence and by the week that the death certificate was filed. Fetal deaths are not included. Total includes unknown ages. More information on Flu Activity & Surveillance is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm.

this graph was created in OurDataWorld, R , Loocker and Tableau

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Introduction: Seasonal influenza, often perceived as a common illness, carries a significant global burden, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Despite advancements in healthcare and vaccination efforts, the flu remains a formidable threat, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as infants and the elderly. This article delves into the intricacies of influenza-related mortality, examining regional disparities, contributing factors, and the implications for public health.

The Global Landscape of Influenza Mortality: Data from the Global Pandemic Mortality Project II sheds light on the magnitude of influenza-related deaths, drawing from surveillance metrics spanning from 2002 to 2011. These estimates, while informative, underscore the challenge of accurately gauging mortality rates, especially in low-income countries where testing and mortality records may be lacking.

Respiratory Symptoms and Beyond: The conventional understanding of influenza-related fatalities primarily revolves around respiratory complications. Pneumonia and other respiratory ailments serve as prominent causes of death, contributing to the staggering toll of 400,000 lives claimed annually. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that the impact of influenza extends beyond respiratory symptoms. Complications such as strokes and heart attacks, though not explicitly captured in mortality estimates, further amplify the disease's lethality, warranting comprehensive preventive measures.

Vulnerability Across Age Groups: Influenza's lethality is not uniform across age demographics. Infants and the elderly emerge as the most susceptible cohorts, bearing the brunt of severe complications and mortality. Among individuals aged over 65, the mortality rate stands at approximately 31 per 100,000 in Europe alone, reflecting the disproportionate impact on older populations. The interplay of age-related factors, including weakened immune responses and underlying health conditions, exacerbates the severity of influenza outcomes among these groups.

Regional Disparities and Determinants: A notable aspect of influenza mortality lies in its disparate distribution across regions. While Europe and North America exhibit relatively lower death rates, countries in South America, Africa, and South Asia grapple with higher mortality burdens. This regional divide underscores the complex interplay of socio-economic factors, healthcare accessibility, and vaccination coverage. Poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and suboptimal vaccination rates converge to heighten vulnerability to influenza-related complications, amplifying mortality rates in resource-constrained settings.

Implications for Public Health: The revelation of significant regional differentials in influenza mortality necessitates a tailored approach to public health interventions. Strengthening healthcare systems, particularly in low-income regions, is paramount to bolstering surveillance, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, and facilitating timely interventions. Furthermore, targeted vaccination campaigns, coupled with education initiatives, hold promise in mitigating influenza's toll, especially among vulnerable populations. Addressing socio-economic disparities and bolstering healthcare resilience emerge as pivotal strategies in fortifying global defenses against seasonal influenza.

Conclusion: Seasonal influenza, often underestimated in its impact, exacts a substantial toll on global health each year. The multifaceted nature of influenza-related mortality underscores the need for a nuanced understanding and comprehensive mitigation strategies. By addressing regional disparities, prioritizing vulnerable populations, and fortifying healthcare systems, the global community can strive towards mitigating the burden of seasonal influenza, safeguarding lives, and fostering resilient health systems for generations to come.

Over 12 million people in the United States died from all causes between the beginning of January 2020 and August 21, 2023. Over 1.1 million of those deaths were with confirmed or presumed COVID-19.

Vaccine rollout in the United States Finding a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine was an urgent health priority since the very start of the pandemic. In the United States, the first two vaccines were authorized and recommended for use in December 2020. One has been developed by Massachusetts-based biotech company Moderna, and the number of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines administered in the U.S. was over 250 million. Moderna has also said that its vaccine is effective against the coronavirus variants first identified in the UK and South Africa.

This dataset contains the following files for California influenza surveillance data: 1) Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Data by Region and Influenza Season from volunteer sentinel providers; 2) Clinical Sentinel Laboratory Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Surveillance Data by Region and Influenza Season from volunteer sentinel laboratories; and 3) Public Health Laboratory Influenza Respiratory Virus Surveillance Data by Region and Influenza Season from California public health laboratories. The Immunization Branch at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) collects, compiles and analyzes information on influenza activity year-round in California and produces a weekly influenza surveillance report during October through May. The California influenza surveillance system is a collaborative effort between CDPH and its many partners at local health departments, public health and clinical laboratories, vital statistics offices, healthcare providers, clinics, emergency departments, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). California data are also included in the CDC weekly influenza surveillance report, FluView, and help contribute to the national picture of Influenza activity in the United States. The information collected allows CDPH and CDC to: 1) find out when and where influenza activity is occurring; 2) track influenza-related illness; 3) determine what influenza viruses are circulating; 4) detect changes in influenza viruses; and 5) measure the impact influenza is having on hospitalizations and deaths.