Mortality during the 1996/7 winter.

There was a sharp peak in mortality during the 1996/7 winter, resulting in an estimated 49 thousand excess deaths. This article describes the timing of the winter peak, the population affected and the main causes of death. The relationship between excess winter mortality, temperature and influenza is also explored. The peak in the number of deaths in December 1996 and January 1997 coincided with a peak in the number of deaths attributed to influenza and with low temperatures. However, the excess winter mortality was higher than expected, based on the experience of previous winters.