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Grippe
Grippe
WHO recommended risk groups for vaccination include pregnant women. Photo: WHO
Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. It circulates worldwide causing epidemics, and it can affect anybody in any age group. Each year, seasonal influenza affects 5-15% of the population in the northern hemisphere. While most infected people do not need medical treatment, annually an estimated 3-5 million infections worldwide cause severe disease resulting in hospitalization or even death. In addition to seasonal epidemics, influenza pandemics can occur when a new influenza virus subtype emerges and then spreads easily among human beings. Influenza, therefore, is a significant public health problem.