Reducing the impact of influenza among travelers

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 5% to 15% of the population is affected by the spread of annual seasonal influenza viruses, with children experiencing the highest attack rates of 20% to 30%.1 Seasonal influenza results in between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths per year. In industrialized countries, most deaths occur in people aged 65 years and above, although much less is known about the impact of influenza in developing countries. Superimposed upon seasonal influenza has been a number of novel influenza viruses, including most recently a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) and pandemic (H1N1) 2009.