[Epidemiology--the same procedure as every year?].
The seasonal flu strikes every year with many different faces. Beside a common flu, influenza claims every year a high number of victims especially among the elderly. Despite an active surveillance of the flu activity and circulating viruses on a national and international level, the factors which determine the spread of the influenza virus remain unclear. Regarding the thread of a new pandemic, both, basic research and surveillance of influenza has been intensified to get a more detailed view on the activity and transmissibility of the influenza virus. This article describes the influenza surveillance schemes in Austria, Germany and especially Switzerland highlighting the differences between the three countries. In addition, the new mortality surveillance method used in Switzerland is presented.
Witschi
M
M
Abteilung Ubertragbare Krankheiten, Bundesamt für Gesundheit, Bern. mark.witschi@bag.admin.ch
Koch
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D015996:Survival Rate; D013557:Switzerland