Excess all-cause and influenza-attributable mortality in Europe, December 2016 to February 2017.

Vestergaard, Lasse S; Nielsen, Jens; Krause, Tyra G; Espenhain, Laura; Tersago, Katrien; Bustos Sierra, Natalia; Denissov, Gleb; Innos, Kaire; Virtanen, Mikko J; Fouillet, Anne; +27 more... Lytras, Theodore; Paldy, Anna; Bobvos, Janos; Domegan, Lisa; O'Donnell, Joan; Scortichini, Matteo; de Martino, Annamaria; England, Kathleen; Calleja, Neville; van Asten, Liselotte; Teirlinck, Anne C; Tønnessen, Ragnhild; White, Richard A; P Silva, Susana; Rodrigues, Ana P; Larrauri, Amparo; Leon, Inmaculada; Farah, Ahmed; Junker, Christoph; Sinnathamby, Mary; Pebody, Richard G; Reynolds, Arlene; Bishop, Jennifer; Gross, Diane; Adlhoch, Cornelia; Penttinen, Pasi; Mølbak, Kåre; (2017) Excess all-cause and influenza-attributable mortality in Europe, December 2016 to February 2017. EUROSURVEILLANCE, 22 (14). pp. 2-8. ISSN 1560-7917 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.14.30506

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.