Influenza: New insights into an old disease

Abstract

In the United States each year, influenza accounts for an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 deaths, nearly 300,000 hospitalizations, and millions of days lost from work. In the past few years, there has been an explosion of information in the medical literature related to influenza. This paper reviews these latest developments that enhance our understanding of influenza epidemiology and virology and expand our prevention and treatment options. Diminishing the impact of influenza in this country will require continued intense surveillance, increased use of influenza vaccine, and the availability of alternative vaccines and antivirals with the potential for broader protection against shift-and-drift strains of influenza.