Assessing influenza-related mortality: Comment on Zucs et al.

Jonathan Dushoff

doi:10.1186/1742-7622-2-7

Abstract

Assessing influenza-related mortality: Comment on Zucs et al.

Highlights

Influenza is an important source of mortality and morbidity, and an important public health priority
Some authors argue that influenza is directly or indirectly responsible for the majority of seasonal excess deaths in temperate countries [1], while others argue that they trigger only a small minority [2]
Retrospective cohort studies have shown a surprisingly large protective effect of influenza vaccination against deaths from any cause [3,4,5], and one author has provocatively suggested that increased influenza vaccination of the elderly could halve the total mortality rate [6]

Summary

Introduction

Influenza is an important source of mortality and morbidity, and an important public health priority. Measuring the health burden imposed by influenza viruses is an important, and still controversial, question. Thompson and colleagues have used virologic surveillance data to estimate influenza mortality [13] and hospitalizations [16], using a weekly, seasonal regression model.

Results

Conclusion