NR503 Week 6 Epidemiology Influenza

Epidemiological Evaluation of Influenza The epidemiological disease of seasonal influenza is a public health concern that affects the health of people in the United States each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), influenza affects 5 to 20% of the U.S. population, and has resulted in between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and approximately 56,000 deaths annually since 2010. While the impact of influenza varies across populations, the estimated average economic burden of influenza to the healthcare system was $11.2 billion per year (Putri, Muscatello, Stockwell, & Newall, 2018). High-risk populations, such as infants, older adults, and the immunocompromised, are susceptible to serious influenza complications. Despite the presence of vaccination efforts, influenza continues to be a major health issue in the U.S. This paper will aim to discuss the background and significance of influenza, review current surveillance methods,