Here's the CDC explaining (or trying to justify) its mortality numbers for the flu: How the CDC Estimates Influenza-Associated Deaths
The CDC's position is that deaths from flu are underreported, so CDC estimates a much higher number.
In other words, those weekly numbers in that file are exaggerated estimates. Very few death certificates list "flu" as the cause.
For an idea on just how much the CDC exaggerates the number of deaths from flu, click on this 2010 National Vital Statistics report and go to page 39. That chart indicates that 500 people died from the flu that year (as per their death certificates), whereas almost 50,000 died of pneumonia.
Nowadays, CDC isn't even telling us how many people died of the flu (as per their death certificates). It just combines the number of flu and pneumonia deaths to make the number look much larger.
“In other words, those weekly numbers in that file are exaggerated estimates”
I don’t agree. The weekly numbers are from two surveys listed above in FluVu. They do include pneumonia deaths, because that’s how any flu kills.
The flu death estimates are listed for each year and you’re right they are always higher because the CDC believes the Excel numbers are low. How they get those numbers is not clear.
If the flu only kills 500 people a year, what’s all the fuss about with free flu vaccines and warnings?
Bottom line is the flu kills. Every year it kills thousands. A new strain kills more because we have no protection. Is this flu more deadly and in need of very special extraordinary government action? I think we have to say yes but it’s like a very risky chemo therapy mucking about with the economy like we are. That could kill our way of life and progress for a long while.