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| Influenza | |
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Seasonal influenza
Seasonal influenza
is a highly contagious
viral disease, which
typically occurs as
epidemics during the cold
months. This respiratory
infection may include
symptoms like fever,
cough, pains and
weakness. Annual
outbreaks of influenza
are due to minor changes
in the virus. These
changes enable the virus
to evade the immunity
developed by humans after
previous infections or in
response to vaccinations.
Every year, some 100
million people are
affected in Europe, Japan
and the USA alone.
A European Influenza
Surveillance Network (EISN) led by
the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC) aims at reducing the burden of the disease in Europe through regular exchange of
information on influenza activity.
On 8 July 2009 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council
recommendation on seasonal influenza vaccination 
 with a view to increasing vaccination
coverage in risk groups to 75% by 2015.
Influenza strains from animal origin
Some
influenza strains
can also be found in
animals. Under
certain circumstances,
they can be communicable
to humans and can cause
high morbidity and
mortality in human
populations. Animal
husbandry systems where
humans live in close
cohabitation with poultry
and pigs are considered
the most likely source of
new strains, capable to
cross the species barrier
from animal to man,
through a mutation
mechanism, and may cause
a pandemic.
Learn more
about the Influenza A(H1N1)
Learn
more about avian
influenza in humans and
the EU response
Consult
maps and tables on avian
influenza in humans'
situation
Influenza pandemic
An
influenza pandemic
occurs when a radical
change in influenza virus
takes place. There have
been three pandemics in
the last century. The
change is so radical that
affected humans have no
immunity against this new
virus. With increased
mobility of people, as
well as conditions of
overcrowding, epidemics
due to a newly emerging
influenza virus are
likely to spread quickly
all around the world and
are at risk to eventually
become a pandemic. It is
therefore important to be
prepared to this
eventuality.
Learn
more about influenza
pandemic preparedness
planning at EU level
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