Pneumonia and flu contributed to excess deaths over Christmas period, says CMO's office 

The correspondence from the office of CMO Professor Breda Smyth anticipates that  "additional excess mortality for the 2022/2023 winter period will be observed. Picture: Leah Farrell 

Pneumonia and influenza contributed to excess deaths among the general population in the weeks before and after Christmas, the chief medical officer’s office has said.

Excess deaths in the 75-84 year age cohort were also observed in the last two weeks of December.