January flu deaths almost equal to last year's total

The number of deaths caused by influenza in the Chinese mainland in January was nearly the same as the total flu deaths for all of 2018, and exceeded the combined flu deaths for 2016 and 2017, according to latest figures released by National Health Commission.

More than 608,000 flu cases were reported in the mainland in January, including 143 deaths, while the total of reported flu cases in January of last year was about 274,000, including 56 deaths, the commission said.

The total number of flu deaths last year was 144, compared with 56 in 2016 and 41 in 2017.