The World Health Organization released a briefing note last week on death rates from H1N1 and from seasonal flu. It warned that comparisons are “not reliable for several reasons and can be misleading.”
The note explains that seasonal-flu death rates are based on models that create estimates; whereas H1N1 death rates are currently based on lab-confirmed deaths, which are “unquestionably” lower than the actual totals. WHO says that it won’t be until “one to two years after the [H1N1] pandemic has peaked” that “accurate assessments of mortality and mortality rates will likely be possible.”
The briefing note also points out that comparing death rates misses an important point: H1N1 appears to be more lethal for younger people than typical seasonal flu.
