Michael McGrath
Question:251 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will details in relation to a medical condition (details supplied). [40573/09]
View answerTuesday, 10 November 2009
Questions (193)
Written answers
International studies have shown that seasonal influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality every year. This mortality occurs mainly in the elderly. Only a small number of deaths are registered each year as being due to influenza as the cause of death is often not registered specifically as influenza (See Table 1). Standard international methodology uses excess deaths (deaths over and above the expected number of deaths for the particular season, place and time) as a proxy for estimating influenza-related deaths.
|
Influenza Season (Year) |
Number of deaths registered with influenza as the cause of death by GRO |
|
2004/2005 |
2 |
|
2005/2006 |
1 |
|
2006/2007 |
1 |
|
2007/2008 |
2 |
|
2008/2009 |
4 |
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) currently monitors death registration data from the General Register Office. Using these data, the estimated excess number of all cause deaths was 500 (Range: 360 and 638) during the 2008/2009 influenza season which represented the highest level of seasonal influenza since 2000/2001. In general, the current Irish national estimate of the number of deaths annually from seasonal influenza and its complications is 300-400 deaths per year.
In relation to the second part of the question, a research study would be required to answer this. These data are not routinely available in Ireland, as there is currently no immunisation register for adults or a unique identifier for health related issues, so it is not possible to link data on persons who have died with their vaccination status prior to death.