ABSTRACT
Influenza is one of the most widespread infectious diseases throughout the world, infecting many millions of people annually. It is of major importance for two reasons: first, its potential to cause massive-scale pandemics with significant mortality and major economic sequelae; and second, its preponderance in causing severe viral and secondary bacterial pneumonia, particularly in the elderly, the chronically infirm, and the immunosuppressed. Although vaccination is effective in preventing many cases of influenza in healthy and high-risk individuals, cases still occur due to incomplete coverage, poor vaccine-induced immunity in some groups, and variant viral strains
yDeceased.
