Incidence and risk factors for influenza-like-illness in the UK: online surveillance using Flusurvey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Influenza and Influenza-like-illness (ILI) represents a substantial public health problem, but it is difficult to measure the overall burden as many cases do not access health care. Community cohorts have the advantage of not requiring individuals to present at hospitals and surgeries and therefore can potentially monitor a wider variety of cases. This study reports on the incidence and risk factors for ILI in the UK as measured using Flusurvey, an internet-based open community cohort.

Methods

Upon initial online registration participants were asked background characteristics, and every week were asked to complete a symptoms survey. We compared the representativeness of our sample to the overall population. We used two case definitions of ILI, which differed in wh

SUBMITTER: Adler AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4025540 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature