New research shows around 400 New Zealanders are dying from flu-related illnesses, each year.
Otago University, Wellington, has estimated influenza associated deaths from 1990 to 2008.
Study co-author Professor Michael Baker says seasonal influenza is probably New Zealand's biggest single infectious disease killer.
"400 deaths a year, some of those could be prevented with vaccination for example. Ultimately we do need to find other ways of stopping this virus."
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