Estimating the burden of seasonal influenza

Seasonal influenza causes significant burden to society annually. This includes burden of disease (morbidity, mortality, burden on health care capacity), as well as economic burden. Since vaccines are available to reduce risk of serious disease and death, countries have an important opportunity to mitigate the impact of influenzavirus.

However, few countries generate reliable national data on the burden of disease, or on the economic impact of seasonal influenza. For countries that want to develop policies on evidence of cost and effect of influenza prevention & control, national data on impact of influenza are a critical starting point.

This course has two tracks. Each track is fully based on one of the WHO manuals on influenza burden:

• Estimating the Disease Burden associated with Seasonal Influenza
• Estimating Economic Impact of Seasonal Influenza

When you follow the course, you will be guided through all methodological and practical issues to implement a successful burden of disease study in your country. In addition to guiding you through the manuals, the course will present common problems that occur when using available health care data, and help you find solutions. The prerequisites of this course are basic knowledge of public health systems and familiarity with the introductory level knowledge and skills in epidemiology.

You may decide to only follow the first track, on Disease Burden. If you want to also follow the second track, on Estimating the Economic Impact, then we strongly recommend to do so after completing the first track.Please be aware that certificates of achievement and of participation will only be available for participants that complete both tracks.