Crude H1N1 Death Rate Hovers at 1%

The latest WHO update for infection with the novel H1N1 virus indicates more than 209,438 cases of disease globally and at least 2185 deaths, for a crude mortality rate of 1%. However, this mortality rate is likely an overestimate of the actual H1N1-related mortality rate. Pitfalls in calculating the death rate (or the case-fatality ratio) during the H1N1 pandemic are discussed here.