Figure 5

A semi-log plot of excess all-cause mortality rate variation with age for epidemic seasons before, including and immediately after the emergence of A(H3N2) viruses in (A) Australia, (B) Canada, (C) France, (D) Japan, the (E)UK and the (F) US, in alphabetical order. The pandemic season is shown as a dashed dark-green line. For countries other than the USA and Canada, the season of emergence was one of low mortality, while the second season was severe (short-dashed fuchsia line). The oldest elderly population over the age of 78 years had reduced mortality in the severe pandemic season, everywhere. This mortality reduction was lost abruptly in the 1975/6 season, except in France.