Influenza is an infectious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, which comes every year during the winter months. By applying international influenza mortality data, the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) has estimated that in recent years up to 40,000 people have died prematurely each year in the European Union (EU) directly or indirectly due to influenza. Many more people are hospitalised or have to take time off work. This confirms that the disease remains a public health threat. But prevention makes a difference, and vaccination is the most effective preventive measure.
The seasonal influenza season has now started in Europe. In the first affected country, the United Kingdom (UK), there have been some cases of severely affected people, with some fatalities. The numbers of severe cases needing high level hospital care are higher than in the 2009 pandemic. An important finding is that very few of the fatal cases to date had a record of vaccination with the 2009 pandemic vaccine or the 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine. Thus confirming the effectiveness of both vaccines against the A(H1N1) 2009 virus.
The data collected so far indicate that the influenza epidemics are probably following previous seasonal trends and progresses from West to East. To date (January 2011) the main viruses circulating are A(H1N1) 2009 (now a seasonal virus) and some influenza B viruses. The current viruses circulating in the EU are in line with the strains that have been included in the 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine, indicating that it should be effective.
During the influenza season, citizens should adopt preventative measures: personal hygiene measures and vaccination for those recommended. Vaccination is the most effective of these measures and ECDC advice remains that all those who are recommended to have the influenza vaccine by their national authorities should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
While each Member State remains responsible for managing and protecting its citizens on its territory, a regional response is sometimes required to tackle serious cross-border health threats. In the cases where an EU coordinated response brings added value to national actions, the EU institutions and particularly the European Commission coordinates national public health responses, based on scientific advice provided by WHO and ECDC.
The European Commission is working in close cooperation with the 27 Member States and the EEA countries (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) through the Network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community established in 1998 by Decision 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and in the framework of the EU Health Security Committee to facilitate coordination of national actions.
The European Commission is also collaborating with key global partners such as the countries of the Global Health Security Initiative(GHSI includes the G7 countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, USA – and Mexico and World Health Organization) to facilitate coordination at global level.
For more information on influenza in your country, refer to your national website via our interactive map.
