UK study shows swine flu pandemic less lethal than feared

On Dec. 10, the British scientists announced the results of research which show the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic is less deadly that previously thought.

The study, led by the Government's chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, showed that this year's pandemic is far less fatal than the 1918 Spanish flu and less lethal than both 1957 and 1968 flu pandemics. As the published online on the British Medical Journal website report shows, about 1% of the population in England had swine flu with symptoms, of which 0.026% died. The highest death rate was among people over 65 years old (0.98%), and the lowest among the children aged 5 to 14 (0.011%). The analysis showed many of the patients who died were high risk and would have been eligible for vaccination. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, there were 10,074 deaths worldwide caused by the H1N1 influenza, since the pandemic was declared in June. Experts say seasonal flu can kill up to 40,000 people a year in Europe alone, the Reuters reports. The CBC News notes that the British results are similar to the U.S. report published on Dec. 7, on the PLoS Medicine website. Sir Liam Donaldson points out that the results are not justification for inaction. Vaccinations must be provided for people at high risk, such as those with asthma, diabetes, heart disease and pregnant women.