title: [Role of the European Scientific Work Group on Influenza in the battle against influenza].
abstract: The European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI) was established in 1992. Its main task is to reduce impact of influenza in Europe by increase of awareness about influenza, dangers, methods of its prevention among physicians and in the society, stimulation of scientific studies, organizing of conferences, including those on the preparedness plans for the next pandemic. Infections, and in some cases also deaths, caused in humans by avian influenza viruses A(H5N1) in 1997 and 2003, A(H9N2) in 1999 and A(H7N7) in 2003 show that the outbreak of the next pandemic is a matter of time. Considering the above facts ESWI prepared a pilot study to introduce in Poland, Germany and Sweden. The main aim of this project is to achieve a better and more effective control of influenza by an increase of knowledge about influenza, promoting of vaccinations and new antiinfluenza drugs--neuraminidase inhibitors. In Poland project is coordinated by the National Influenza Center located at the National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw. This is only one center in Poland and one of 112 similar centers in 83 countries of the world participating in the international program of influenza surveillance in cooperation with WHO, ESWI and European Influenza Surveillance Scheme.
authors.affiliation: Państwowy Zakład Higieny-Krajowy Ośrodek ds. Grypy. lbrydak@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Lidia B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Brydak
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machała
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011044:Poland; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization