Influenza how many people die a year

While the effects of flu varies, it places a substantial burden on the health of people in the United States each year. CDC estimates that flu has resulted in 9 million — 41 million illnesses, , — , hospitalizations and 12, — 52, deaths annually between and To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address:.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Influenza Flu. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Disease Burden of Flu. Minus Related Pages. Flu Burden Averted from Vaccination. Flu-related illness and hospitalization. Study: Annual estimates of the burden of seasonal flu in the United States: A tool for strengthening flu surveillance and preparedness external icon.

The worst recent flu season was , when 61, people died from the flu. Around 22, people died of the flu during the shorter season — the second lowest death total in the past 10 years, after the 12, flu deaths in the season. Even accounting for the fact that the COVID pandemic has lasted a year instead of eight months, it has taken an average of 36, more lives per month when compared to the flu season.

Since not everyone sick with the flu visits a doctor, and not all flu deaths occur in the hospital, the CDC uses mathematical modeling based on its surveillance data to estimate the total number of illnesses and deaths. This model considers factors like testing frequency, the likelihood of seeking medical care, and underreporting on death certificates.

The flu can lead to death by pneumonia, congestive heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — in which case flu testing may occur too late or not at all. Still, state-level unadjusted death certificate data can help show how flu mortality rates vary across the nation. In , the flu hit several states in the Northwest especially hard, while Missouri, Kansas, and West Virginia faced the highest death rates in Children younger than five are likeliest to get the flu, as well as to see a doctor about it, followed by older children and adults — the CDC notes that adults aged 18 to 64 tend to have lower rates of vaccination.

But older Americans, despite being the least likely to get sick, are the most likely to be hospitalized and die. In total, about 0. Vaccinations prevented an estimated 6, deaths in the flu season.

In the past decade, they have prevented as few as 3, deaths in the season and as many as 12, deaths in the season. Keep up with the latest data and most popular content. Issues Data Reports. Coronavirus Climate. Education Look at the data on educational progress and challenges. Healthcare From health insurance to prescription drug prices, the cost of healthcare has been a political issue for decades.

Immigration Find data on a range of immigration issues, including information on asylum seekers, DACA, visas, plus border security. Weight Loss. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core. The flu has almost entirely disappeared this winter, with just over 1, cases reported in the U.

Flu season, which runs from October through May, usually results in millions of infections and thousands of deaths. How many people die from the flu each year? Related Story.