Influenza

Influenza is a common respiratory illness, which rapidly spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics affecting about1 billion people every year. It is estimated that every year, influenza causes 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and is responsible for about 500,000 deaths. The most vulnerable are the old, the very young or the chronically ill.
Influenza is not restricted to cold parts of the world and can even occur in the tropics. It is not restricted to any age group and spreads rapidly, through schools, businesses and towns. It can also place serious strains on public health facilities and cause economic loss on society as a whole when, for example, employees take sick leave from work. The World Bank estimates that in the United States in 2007 there were 8 7.1 billion US dollars on influenza -related costs, 20-40 million outpatient visits and 330 000 hospitalizations for influenza related problems.

The Global Influenza Programme

The WHO's Global Influenza Programme (GIP) was established in 1948 to assist in planning for the recurrence of a pandemic influenza and to help control and limit the spread of seasonal influenza.

The mission of GIP is to provide the Member States with the global leadership, technical and scientific guidance, and support that is needed to control and prevent seasonal, animal and pandemic influenza in human populations. In addition, GIP coordinates technical units at Headquarters and in the Regions to attain its mission.

GIP, working with partners and organizations worldwide coordinates a global response to threats influenza. All forms of influenza are due to Influenza viruses which are characterized by constant changes in their structure through drift or shift and therefore require close monitoring and assessment.

It is difficult predict which influenza strain will cause a pandemic or when it may break out. We know that when it happens, taking into account lessons learnt from past pandemics and today's ways of living such as regular air travel, the damage could be devastating. A pandemic could cause high mortality, in a very short space of time. It could severely strain countries' essential services and cause severe disruption and economic loss.

GIP because of its networks and broad range of partners is uniquely positioned to:

• help support countries to PROTECT themselves against the constant risks associated with seasonal, animal and pandemic influenza, and
• help countries PREPARE for the next flu pandemic thereby mitigating its potential impact.