1. WHO Africa
  2. Health topics
  3. Influenza

Influenza

    Overview

    Influenza is an acute viral respiratory disease that is often characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, sore throat and cough. Influenza infection is transmitted through respiratory droplets or contact and is clinically indistinguishable from other respiratory viral diseases without laboratory confirmation.

    Human influenza is caused by the influenza viruses which are classified into three main types: influenza A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses can cause epidemic disease in humans and type C viruses usually cause a mild, cold-like illness. The natural reservoir of influenza viruses are aquatic birds and influenza can cause disease in a range of mammalian species including pigs, seals and horses.

    Influenza viruses can spread rapidly around the world causing seasonal epidemics that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. In temperate climates influenza is seasonal, typically occurring every year in late autumn or winter. In tropical and subtropical regions the existence of seasonal patterns of influenza transmission are unknown and sporadic cases of influenza can occur year-round. Data describing seasonality, epidemiology, transmission patterns and disease burden from human influenza in the African Region is limited. Influenza vaccines are produced every year against seasonal influenza and offer protection for vulnerable groups in the community.

    Pandemic influenza is caused by a new or novel influenza that is introduced into a population where few people are immune. In the last hundred years, four global pandemics have occurred. The 1918 pandemic (influenza A/H1N1) which infected an estimated 500 million and killed 50-100 million people worldwide has been the most devastating pandemic to date with more recent pandemics; 1957 Asian Flu pandemic (influenza A/H2N2), 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic (influenza A/H3N2) and the 2009 (influenza A[H1N1]pdm09) resulting in far fewer deaths. 

    Avian influenza can also infect humans and the first cases of human infection with a highly pathogenic avian influenza (A/H5N1) were reported in 1997 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Since 2003, sixteen countries, representing all WHO regions have reported human infections of A/H5N1 with a total of 840 cases and 447 deaths recorded. In addition to A/H5N1 an increasing number of other avian influenza A viruses are being recognised as causing sporadic infections in humans. Human disease caused by some avian viruses can be mild however certain avian viruses can cause severe disease and mortality. A number of avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in the African region resulting in the large scale death or destruction of backyard and commercial poultry, however few human cases have been reported.

    Influenza Epidemiological Bulletin

    Influenza epidemiological bulletin   









     


    Read the bulletin

    Fact sheet

    • Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person.
    • Seasonal influenza viruses circulate worldwide and can affect people in any age group.
    • In temperate climates, seasonal epidemics occur mainly during winter while in tropical regions, influenza seasonality is less obvious and epidemics can occur throughout the year.
    • Seasonal influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illness and death in high risk populations.
    • An influenza epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity and strained health services.
    • Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent disease.
    • Antiviral drugs are available for treatment, though influenza viruses can develop resistance to the drugs.

    Overview

    Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world.

    There are 3 types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, and C. Influenza type A viruses are further classified into subtypes according to the combinations of 2 different proteins, the haemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N), located on the surface of the virus. The subtypes of influenza A viruses currently circulating among humans are influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) subtypes. The circulating influenza A(H1N1) is also written as A(H1N1)pdm09 as it caused the pandemic in 2009 and subsequently replaced the seasonal influenza A(H1N1) virus which had circulated prior to 2009. Only influenza type A viruses are known to have caused pandemics.

    Circulating influenza B viruses can be divided into 2 main groups (lineages), referred to as B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages. Influenza B viruses are not classified into subtypes.

    Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause outbreaks and epidemics. Due to this reason, relevant strains of influenza A and B viruses are included in seasonal influenza vaccines.

    Influenza type C virus is detected much less frequently and usually causes mild infections, thus presents less significant public health implications.

    Signs and symptoms

    Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last 2 or more weeks. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk (see below). The time from infection to illness, known as the incubation period, is about 2 days.

    Who is at risk?

    Yearly influenza epidemics can seriously affect all populations, but the highest risk of complications occur among pregnant women, children aged 6–59 months, the elderly, individuals with specific chronic medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, asthma, and chronic heart or lung diseases, and health-care workers.

    Transmission

    Seasonal influenza spreads easily, with rapid transmission in crowded areas including schools and nursing homes. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets containing viruses (infectious droplets) are dispersed into the air and are spread to persons in close proximity who breathe these droplets in. The virus can also be spread by hands contaminated with influenza viruses. To prevent transmission, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.

    Seasonal epidemics and disease burden

    In temperate climates, seasonal epidemics occur mainly during winter, while in tropical regions, influenza may occur throughout the year, causing outbreaks more irregularly.

    Illnesses range from mild to severe and even death. Hospitalization and death occur mainly among high-risk groups. Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 250 000 to 500 000 deaths.

    In industrialized countries most deaths associated with influenza occur among people age 65 or older. Epidemics can result in high levels of worker/school absenteeism and productivity losses. Clinics and hospitals can be overwhelmed during peak illness periods.

    The effects of seasonal influenza epidemics in developing countries are not fully known, but research estimates indicate that 99% of deaths in children under 5 years of age with influenza related lower respiratory tract infections are found in developing countries.

    Prevention

    The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines are available and have been used for more than 60 years. Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine provides protection, even when circulating viruses may not exactly match the vaccine viruses.

    However, among the elderly, influenza vaccination may be less effective in preventing illness but reduces severity of disease and incidence of complications and deaths. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious influenza complications, and for people who live with, or care for, high risk individuals.

    WHO recommends annual vaccination for:

    • pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
    • children aged between 6 months to 5 years
    • elderly individuals (aged more than 65 years)
    • individuals with chronic medical conditions
    • health-care workers.

    Influenza vaccine is most effective when circulating viruses are well-matched with viruses contained in vaccines. Due to the constant evolving nature of influenza viruses, the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) – a network of National Influenza Centres and WHO Collaborating Centres around the world – continuously monitors the influenza viruses circulating in humans and updates the composition of influenza vaccines twice a year.

    For many years, WHO has updated its recommendation on the composition of the vaccine that targets the 3 (trivalent) most representative virus types in circulation (two subtypes of influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus). Starting with the 2013–2014 northern hemisphere influenza season, a 4th component is recommended to support quadrivalent vaccine development. Quadrivalent vaccines include a 2nd influenza B virus in addition to the viruses in trivalent vaccines, and are expected to provide wider protection against influenza B virus infections. A number of inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines are available in injectable form. Live attenuated influenza vaccine is available as a nasal spray.

    Treatment

    Antiviral drugs for influenza are available in some countries and may reduce severe complications and deaths. Ideally they need to be administered early (within 48 hours of onset of symptoms) in the disease. There are 2 classes of such medicines:

    • inhibitors of the influenza neuraminidase protein (oseltamivir and zanamivir; as well as peramivir and laninamivir which are licensed in several countries).

    • M2 proton channel blockers adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine), to which virus resistance has been frequently reported, limiting the effectiveness of treatment.

    WHO monitors antiviral susceptibility among circulating influenza viruses to provide timely guidance for antiviral use in clinical management and potential chemoprophylaxis. Currently, the majority of circulating influenza viruses are resistant to the adamantanes and WHO recommends neuraminidase inhibitors as the first-line treatment for people requiring antiviral therapy.

    WHO response

    WHO, through the GISRS network, in collaboration with other partners, monitors influenza activity globally, recommends seasonal influenza vaccine compositions twice a year for the Northern and Southern hemisphere influenza seasons, and supports Member States’ efforts to develop prevention and control strategies.

    WHO works to strengthen national, regional and global influenza response capacities including diagnostics, antiviral susceptibility monitoring, disease surveillance and outbreak responses, and to increase vaccine coverage among high-risk groups and prepare for the next influenza pandemic.

    Featured news

    View all →
    African countries test their capacity to respond to a deadly global flu pandemic
    African countries test their capacity to respond to a deadly global flu pandemic

    Multimedia

    There are no media at this time.