Deaths due to flu and pneumonia accounted for nearly one in 10 of all deaths registered in England and Wales at the start of the year, the highest proportion since before the pandemic, figures show. Some 1,383 deaths registered in the week to January 6 had flu and pneumonia recorded as the underlying cause, 9% of the total.
The weekly figure peaked at 7% in the pre-Covid winter of 2019/20. It follows a surge in flu cases in the weeks before Christmas, which the UK Health Security Agency described as the worst flu season for a decade.
The data has been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and also shows the number of registered deaths continues to be well above average for the time of year. Some 14% more deaths than usual were registered in England and Wales in the week to January 6, following 20% above average in the previous week and 21% in the week to December 23.
