Easing the burden: the challenge of managing influenza

Influenza is responsible for an intense, 4- to 5-month demand annually on healthcare resources in the United States. The population group primarily responsible for the financial burden of influenza on the community is healthy, working adults who are not in the high-risk category of people for whom influenza vaccination is normally recommended. While costs associated with influenza include hospitalizations, primary care physician visits, and medications, up to 80% of the total costs of this illness result from industrial absenteeism. While vaccination is the first step in reducing these expenses, a promising new class of antiviral drugs has been found to decrease duration of illness by almost one third as well as decreasing severity of symptoms.