L'influenza nell'anziano: impatto sanitario e prevenzione

Influenza is one of major public health problem worldwide. It is important to define longterm priorities to reduce morbidity and mortality from annual influenza epidemics and to prepare for the next influenza pandemic. During the influenza epidemics every year, an estimated half a million people worldwide die. The four pandemics in the last century alone claimed more than 50 million lives. In 2001, only 250 million vaccine doses were used globally, whereas the people at greatest risk of dying from influenza, those aged over 65, already number more than 380 million. The vast majority of people, particularly, but not exclusively, those in developing countries, have no access to the vaccine or are unaware of the benefits of vaccination. It seems necessary to: (1) strengthen disease and virological surveillance nationally and internationally; (2) increase knowledge on the health and economic burden of influenza; (3) increase influenza vaccine usage; and (4) accelerate national and international action on pandemic preparedness.