STREAM 2: LIMITING SPREAD

Overview

Influenza causes substantial disease burden worldwide. An estimated 10%-20% of the world’s population is affected each year by seasonal epidemic influenza. Pandemics arise through antigenic shifts resulting in a new virus that is not related to previous human seasonal influenza viruses. Widespread infection results due to the lack of immunity in the population to the pandemic virus. Influenza pandemics and epidemics can have substantial health (e.g. clinical illness, hospitalization and death) and socio-economic (e.g. absenteeism from work and decrease in travel and trade) impacts.