The potential risks and impact of the start of the 2015-2016 influenza season in the WHO European Region: a rapid risk assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region are reporting more severe influenza activity in the 2015-2016 season compared to previous seasons.

Objectives

To conduct a rapid risk assessment to provide interim information on the severity of the current influenza season METHODS: Using the WHO manual for rapid risk assessment of acute public health events and surveillance data available from Flu News Europe, an assessment of the current influenza season from 28 September 2015 (week 40/2015) up to 31 January 2016 (week 04/2016) was made compared with the 4 previous seasons.

Results

The current influenza season started around week 51/2015 with higher influenza activity reported in eastern Europe compared to Western Europe. There is a strong p

SUBMITTER: Tjon-Kon-Fat R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4910174 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature