Influenza
Influenza is estimated to cause three to five million cases and 300,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide each year. The most severe influenza pandemic, in 1918, infected up to 50 percent of the world’s population and caused 20 to 50 million deaths worldwide. The use of antiviral drugs can lessen the severity of disease. Vaccines against seasonal influenza are made yearly to defend against currently circulating strains; however, vaccines against a potential influenza pandemic are not yet available.
More about influenza | View resources on influenza
Key resources
Acute Respiratory Infections: Influenza
A World Health Organization web page with information on influenza, including disease burden and vaccines, as well as links to fact sheets, pandemic preparedness resources, meeting reports, and clinical trial information.
Flu (Influenza)
A web page from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that provides key information on seasonal, bird, and pandemic flu.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web page with general information on avian influenza, including how it is transmitted and methods of prevention, as well as resources for specific groups such as travelers, health professionals, and poultry workers.
Featured PATH resources
Influenza Vaccine Strategies for Broad Global Access (2007)
An analysis of the current supply of influenza vaccines, the predicted demand for influenza vaccines in case of a pandemic, and new vaccine technologies that could provide for the world’s demand in a pandemic situation.
