Abstract
Since December 2016, excess all-cause mortality was observed in many European countries, especially among people aged ≥ 65 years. We estimated all-cause and influenza-attributable mortality in 19 European countries/regions. Excess mortality was primarily explained by circulation of influenza virus A(H3N2). Cold weather snaps contributed in some countries. The pattern was similar to the last major influenza A(H3N2) season in 2014/15 in Europe, although starting earlier in line with the early influenza season start.
Highlights
Since December 2016, excess all-cause mortality was observed in many European countries, especially among people aged ≥ 65 years
Influenza activity (IA) data, based on reported national rates of influenzalike illness (ILI) or acute respiratory infection (ARI), or, if not available, based on reported intensity of influenza activity (IA), is used to estimate the burden of influenza-attributable mortality, applying a statistical algorithm known as FluMOMO [11]
Excess mortality was detected in many other EuroMOMO network countries, including the following: Belgium, England (UK), Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland (UK), Spain, Switzerland and Wales (UK)
Summary
Excess all-cause and influenza-attributable mortality in Europe, December 2016 to February 2017. Circulation of influenza virus, in particular with the subtype A(H3N2), has been shown to be the main seasonal driver of excess mortality, among the elderly (≥ 65 years of age), but other factors such as other respiratory agents and extreme cold weather may contribute as well [6,7,8,9,10]. In the current 2016/17 winter season, from the end of 2016 and until calendar week 8/2017, marked excess all-cause mortality was observed in many countries participating in the network for European monitoring of excess mortality for public health action (EuroMOMO), in people 65 years and older, and among those aged 15–64 years. We describe the excess all-cause mortality and estimate the influenza-attributable mortality for the current winter season until calendar week 8/2017 in Europe
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