Estimating Influenza-associated Deaths in the United States

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2009 Oct 3

PMID 19797736

Citations 71

Authors

William W Thompson

Matthew R Moore

Eric Weintraub

Po-Yung Cheng

Xiaoping Jin

Carolyn B Bridges

Joseph S Bresee

David K Shay

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Most estimates of US deaths associated with influenza circulation have been similar despite the use of different approaches. However, a recently published estimate suggested that previous estimates substantially overestimated deaths associated with influenza, and concluded that substantial numbers of deaths during a future pandemic could be prevented because of improvements in medical care. We reviewed the data sources and methods used to estimate influenza-associated deaths. We suggest that discrepancies between the recent estimate and previous estimates of the number of influenza-associated deaths are attributable primarily to the use of different outcomes and methods. We also believe that secondary bacterial infections will likely result in substantial morbidity and mortality during a future influenza pandemic, despite medical progress.

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