Italy is one of the epicenters of COVID-19 with a higher than usual percentage of fatalities. They have a higher than usual number of elderly people so that explains part of it - this is borne out in this paper from August 2019 looking at the Influenza season of 2013/14 and 2016/17 - from the International Journal of Infectious Diseases:
Investigating the impact of influenza on excess mortality in all ages in Italy during recent seasons (2013/14–2016/17 seasons)
Highlights
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- In the winter seasons from 2013/14 to 2016/17, an estimated average of 5,290,000 ILI cases occurred in Italy, corresponding to an incidence of 9%.
- More than 68,000 deaths attributable to flu epidemics were estimated in the study period.
- Italy showed a higher influenza attributable excess mortality compared to other European countries. especially in the elderly.
A lot more at the site. Something to consider when looking at the overall mortality of the Chinese Flu.
And, something to consider if looking at retiring to Italy - medical care does not seem to be oriented towards us old farts.
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