Flu Deaths per Year: Understanding the Scale
The CDC has collected detailed information on how many people die from the flu each year in the United States, spanning from the 2010-2011 flu season through to the 2022-2023 season. This data emphasizes the considerable number of deaths caused by the flu annually. It also shows that the number of flu deaths can greatly vary from one year to the next. For instance, during the 2017-2018 flu season, there was a record high of 51,000 deaths, underscoring the flu's capacity to significantly affect public health.
The Importance of Flu Prevention
Even during milder flu seasons, like 2011-2012, there were still 12,000 deaths from the flu, showing that every flu season can be deadly. The number of flu deaths per year dropped to 4,900 in the 2021-2022 season, likely because of health measures taken for COVID-19. However, the death toll jumped to 21,000 the following season, highlighting the flu's constant threat. This emphasizes how important it is to prevent the flu, mainly through getting vaccinated, to lower the risk of death and protect public health.