Influenza and flu prophylaxis – a current medical issue

Influenza is a disease which returns every epidemic season in different degrees of severity, especially in high-risk groups. According to current data, 5–25% of the world population contract this disease and mortality because of influenza reaches 0.5–1 million people. However, this problem is still not dealt with appropriately and is even disregarded. In contrast to other viruses influenza cannot be eradicatedas a result of its changeability but post-influenza complications can be dealt with using prophylactic methods. Since 9 May 1977 there have been more and more fatal cases of human infections with bird flu. The danger of another outburst of a flu pandemic is imminent. According to World Health Organisation influenza is one of the priorities of public health – that is the reason of originating International Influenza Surveillance Programme. A basic method of protecting the population against influenza, which is also the cheapest, is vaccination of as many people in the population as possible, especially those from high-risk groups. Post-influenza complications result not only in illness but also in economic losses.