Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Swiss Heatwaves Drive Increase in Summer Mortality


(MENAFN) Switzerland recorded around 600 more deaths than normally expected between June and September as the country endured its hottest summer since temperature records began in 1864.

Mortality figures released by the Federal Statistical Office on Tuesday showed that the most significant rise occurred alongside the first period of extreme temperatures in late June.

According to reports, Martina Ragettli, an epidemiologist at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, said early-season heat can pose a greater risk because people have had less time to adjust physically to elevated temperatures.

After temperatures eased in July, Switzerland experienced another extended heatwave at the beginning of August.

The majority of excess deaths involved people aged over 65. However, the figures also indicated a noticeable increase in mortality among people under 65 during the second period of extreme heat.

Ragettli said a possible explanation was the resumption of regular work routines after the holiday season. People working outdoors or commuting for long periods may have had fewer chances to escape the high temperatures. She noted, however, that additional factors, including the severity and length of the heatwave, may also have played a role.

The mortality figures do not demonstrate that heat was the direct cause of individual deaths, as fatalities can be officially recorded under other conditions, including cardiovascular or circulatory diseases.

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