title: Influence of Media on Seasonal Influenza Epidemic Curves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theoretical investigations predicting the epidemic curves of seasonal influenza have been demonstrated so far; however, there is little empirical research using ever accumulated epidemic curves. The effects of vaccine coverage and information distribution on influenza epidemics were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four indices for epidemics (i.e., onset-peak duration, onset-end duration, ratio of the onset-peak duration to onset-end duration and steepness of epidemic curves) were defined, and the correlations between these indices and anti-flu drug prescription dose, vaccine coverage, the volume of media and search trend on influenza through internet were analyzed. Epidemiological data on seasonal influenza epidemics from 2002/2003 to 2013/2014 excluding 2009/2010 season were collected from National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The onset-peak duration and its ratio to onset-end duration correlated inversely with the volume of anti-flu drug prescription. Onset-peak duration correlated positively with media information volume on influenza. The steepness of the epidemic curve, and anti-flu drug prescription dose inversely correlated with the volume of media information. Pre-epidemic search trend and media volume on influenza correlated with the vaccine coverage in the season. Vaccine coverage had no strong effect on epidemic curve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education through media has an effect on the epidemic curve of seasonal influenza.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan; Clinical Laboratory, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan; Infection Control Center, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoga
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Center, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Center, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoclinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan; Clinical Laboratory, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan; Infection Control Center, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan. Electronic address: kayaba@hirosaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayaba
mesh_terms: D058872:Epidemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020407:Internet; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Education; Epidemic; Influenza; Information Distribution; Vaccine Coverage