China's seasonal flu death exceeds expectations

According to a study released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the 4th, the burden of seasonal flu-related deaths in China significantly exceeded expectations.

The study entitled "Influenza-related deaths in temperate and sub-tropical cities of China in 2003-2008", a Chinese seasonal influenza burden survey, adopts a model method that has been widely used in foreign countries for more than 50 years and undergoes rigorous evaluation, screening, and quality control. Selecting data from 8 cities with high quality of death registration in China, for the first time, estimated the flu-related excess mortality in China.

The survey results show that during the period 2003-2008, seasonal flu in three cities in northern China and five southern cities can cause a large number of respiratory and circulatory system diseases to die each year. The excess mortality rate is similar to that of European countries and subtropical regions, of which more than 86% are. Influenza-related excess deaths occurred in people aged ≥65 years.

Studies have shown that the proportion of deaths caused by influenza A (H3N2) subtypes in the United States, Hong Kong, etc. is the highest, and over half of China’s excess deaths are associated with influenza B virus.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that this shows that the general public's view that the flu is a common cold and does not cause serious illness or that the Chinese are not susceptible to the flu is not correct, and the public does not have enough knowledge of the flu’s hazards.

The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the study was positively evaluated by the World Health Organization’s influenza experts. “The results of the study highlighted the importance of influenza B for severe cases.” Chinese scientists reported that the deaths caused by the flu in China are significantly higher than those of the public in the past. understanding".

The study was led by the Department of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and was jointly completed by experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention.