Tuesday 25 November 2014 11:41am
Professor Michael Baker discusses a new paper he co-authored about the large public health impact of influenza in New Zealand.
New Zealand has an average of 401 influenza-associated deaths each year according to estimates published for the first time. This is an average annual mortality rate of 10.6 per 100,000 population.
“The estimated number of influenza deaths over the study period was 17 times higher than the number recorded in standard mortality statistics,” Professor Baker says.
Seasonal influenza probably remains New Zealand's biggest single infectious disease killer, accounting for 1.6% of all medical deaths recorded over the 1990 to 2008 period, he says.
“These findings reinforce the need to continue efforts to develop and implement effective measures to prevent influenza and reduce the harm it causes to vulnerable groups."
Lead author Dr Tara Kessaram says the results show the large public health impact of influenza, particularly among the elderly, many of whom will have underlying conditions that are triggered or made worse by influenza.
“Although pandemic influenza gets a lot of justified attention, we need to keep remembering the huge toll from seasonal influenza, which comes around each year,” Dr Kessaram says.
Read the full University of Otago media release:
- Influenza estimated to kill about 400 New Zealanders each year 24 November 2014, University of Otago website
Related news stories:
- Flu victim's son urges vaccines for all 25 November 2014, Stuff website
- Flu survivor pushing immunisation message 25 November 2014, NZ Herald website
