Table 3. Annual incidence of deaths with influenza as the underlying cause, including those with influenza polymerase chain reaction test.^a.

Year	Population	Deaths with influenza as the underlying cause
		Total, n (per 100,000 population)	With influenza test
			Total, n (%)	Positive, n (per 100,000 population)b	Positivity (%)c
2015	3,202,489	20 (0.6)	15 (75)	0 (0)d	0
2016	3,210,914	22 (0.7)	16 (72.7)	5 (0.2)	31.3
2017	3,219,095	26 (0.8)	19 (73.1)	0 (0.0)	0
2018	3,226,596	75 (2.3)	58 (77.3)	33 (1.0)	56.9
2019	3,234,939	52 (1.6)	40 (76.9)	12 (0.4)	30
2020	3,235,883	23 (0.7)	14 (60.9)	0 (0)	0
2021	3,243,287	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	—e

^aFor each year between 2015 and 2021, the table includes the population estimate for Wales, the total number of deaths with influenza as the underlying cause, the number of those deaths that match an influenza test collected in the last 28 days before death, the number of those deaths with positive tests, and test positivity. Death records were extracted from the Annual District Death Extract data set. Influenza test records were extracted from the Welsh Results Reports Service data source.

^bThis column represents our case definition: death due to influenza as the underlying cause with a positive influenza test.

^cPositivity % is the percentage of deaths with influenza as the underlying cause and an influenza test where the test was positive.

^dCounts withfewer less than 5 are presentedreported as 0.

^eNot available.