Impact of Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics

Impact of Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics
Influenza epidemics have been recognized as a major cause of morbidity and increase mortality, especially in the very young, the very old people with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.

Each year, influenza results in 3-5 millions cases of severe illness and kills between 0.25 and 0.5 million people worldwide.

The WHO estimates that there are currently 1 billion people worldwide who are at high risk of suffering or dying from influenza and its complications.

Furthermore, as the elderly population increases, future influenza epidemics would be associated with ever increasing hospitalization rates and excess mortality unless adequate prophylactic measures are taken.

In developed countries, about 100 people per million population die annually from influenza.

Public health policy needs to address the interrelated issues of optimizing both the effectiveness of annual vaccination programmes and the preparedness for future pandemic outbreaks of influenza.

Health-care professional play a key role in this regard by participating in influenza surveillance and by providing appropriate preventative and treatment regiments for their patients.
Impact of Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics