Impact of the Flu

The Influenza virus spreads quickly

• Each year in the United States, 5% to 20% of the general
  population contracts influenza.
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized every year due to influenza-related complications.
• Annual deaths from influenza-related causes range from 3300
  to 48,600.
• Adults shed influenza virus 5-10 days after infection, thus remaining contagious during this period.
• Children shed virus before signs and symptoms of illness begin and for longer periods once illness starts. Shedding for up to 21 days in children (median 7-8 days) has been recorded.

The diagram on the right illustrates the nature of flu contagiousness — from the initial patient who needs influenza treatment to those who come in contact with that person and may need treatment or postexposure prophylaxis.

The influenza virus can have serious consequences — even for patients who have no risk factors

The average annual burden of seasonal influenza among otherwise healthy adults aged 18 to 49 was estimated to include approximately:*

• 5 million illnesses
• 2.4 million outpatient hospital visits
• 32,000 hospitalizations
• 680 deaths

Between 1 and 19,500 days of productivity among 18- to 49-year-olds were lost to influenza over the course of a year.

Stopping the momentum of viral replication can limit the spread of influenza infection.

*Results based on a probabilistic model and publicly available epidemiological data from the 2003 US population.