Underlying health conditions increase risk of death from flu

While the current flu pandemic has lower population impact than previous cases, it is not justification for public health inaction.

That is according to a new report published in the British Medical Journal, which suggests that there is a case for extending the vaccination programme and for continuing to make early antiviral treatment widely available in the UK to reduce deaths.

Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer for England, said: "Of the people who die, the majority have other illnesses before they come into hospital.

"Essentially the vaccine programme is covering the risk groups with priority illnesses that were identified for vaccination."

He added that patients over 65 and under five with underlying conditions are more likely to die after hospitalisation.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recently stated that the estimated number of self-referrals to the National Pandemic Flu Service has decreased in all areas of assessments, authorisations and collections across all age groups.

Since the pandemic began, the HPA estimates a cumulative total of 795,000 cases.

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