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What is the Survival Rate of the Flu?

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Posted on March 24, 2022
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Influenza and pneumonia combined are one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.

To answer the question of how many people survive the flu, we have to look at rates among different ages.

The data:

In the chart below, you can see that the majority of flu deaths occur in people 65 and older.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s difficult to estimate the survival rate of the flu because only pediatric flu deaths are reported to the CDC. Many of the deaths of people 18 and older are estimated based on mathematical models.

CDC reports that for influenza alone, the mortality rate is 1.8 people per 100,000. For influenza and pneumonia combined, the mortality rate is 16.3 people per 100,000.

The bottom line:

  • Flu can be deadly, but most people survive.
  • COVID-19 is deadlier than flu
  • Flu is more likely to cause death when people have both flu and pneumonia
  • People are more likely to survive the flu when they are younger than 65, do not have a chronic condition, and are older than 5

 

 

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