Excess mortality

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/excess-mortality

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the related concept?Mortality displacement, or the 'harvesting effect,' describes deaths occurring earlier than expected
2. Why do scientists study excess mortality?Studying it helps scientists understand the full impact of crises, like pandemics or heatwaves, and shows how many extra people died. This information helps doctors and leaders make better health plans.
3. How do scientists find the expected number of deaths?They look at death records from the previous five years to set a normal level. Then they compare the current deaths to that normal level.

Epidemiology: The branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases and other factors affecting health.
Vital Statistics: Statistical data relating to the incidence of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths within a population.
Mortality Deficit: A period where the number of deaths is lower than expected, often following a period of excess mortality.