How Many People Die from the Flu Each Year?

Flu season is an essential time to take steps to safeguard your health and well-being. While vaccinations for influenza exist, numerous annual flu deaths occur each year, which makes the flu a cause of concern for many. Understanding flu risks and the number of flu fatalities can help you prepare for flu season and take proper preventive measures to protect your health.

However, when it comes to flu prevention and death rates, many are unaware of the ongoing prevalence of influenza in the public health sphere. Read more to discover the number of annual flu deaths and what this means in the context of public health.

How Many People Die From the Flu Each Year?

For the 2022-2023 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates a moderate severity season. During this period, an estimated 31 million people were sick with the flu, with 360,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 flu deaths occurring in the United States.

Globally, flu fatalities are much higher, especially given the risk of influenza-related respiratory diseases like pneumonia. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that global annual flu deaths are as high as 650,000 caused by respiratory diseases alone, making influenza death statistics a massive cause for concern in the global sphere.

Factors Contributing to the Seasonal Flu Impact: Understanding Flu Risks

Several contributing factors cause high influenza death statistics among different populations. Understanding flu risks requires knowing how this serious condition affects people across demographics. Below is a breakdown of some factors contributing to the influenza impact on health.

Age

One of the biggest factors contributing to flu mortality rates is age. Annual flu deaths are much higher in infants and the elderly than in other populations compared to young adults. It’s estimated that individuals over 60 have a ten times higher risk of death from the flu than individuals aged 20. The risk of influenza death increases heavily when individuals pass the age of 20.

Location

While flu mortality rates are higher in infants and the elderly, age is not the only factor contributing to flu deaths. Death rates are higher in countries with greater levels of poverty and less access to healthcare, such as countries in Africa, South America, and South Asia. Individuals in these regions might also not have access to essential resources like seasonal vaccines to protect their health.

Vaccination Status

The seasonal flu impact is much different for people vaccinated than those who have not received the flu vaccine. Between 2010 and 2020, the CDC estimates that around 80 percent of flu-related deaths occurred in people who were not vaccinated. This statistic shows why receiving an annual flu vaccine to protect your body against new strains is so important.

Public Health Policies

A region’s public health policies can play a significant role in annual flu deaths. Areas with stricter public health policies and access to universal healthcare are much less likely to have high flu fatalities than areas with more lenient policies and a lack of access to healthcare.

Flu Strain

The particular strain of the flu occurring during the annual flu season also contributes to higher numbers of flu-related deaths. Some strains are associated with higher death tolls than other strains, making vaccination critical to overall public health and safety.