Influenza occurs in both pandemic and interpandemic forms. Fortunately,pandemics, defined as worldwide outbreaks of severe disease,occur infrequently. Interpandemic influenza, although less extensivein its impact, occurs virtually every year. Widespread avianinfection with influenza A (H5N1) and associated clusters ofhuman disease have aroused concern about the threat of a pandemic,and attention has been appropriately focused on control measuresto deal with such an event. However, interpandemic influenzahas a substantial effect, both cumulatively and in individualoutbreaks, and has much to teach us about transmission, pathogenesis,and potentially effective control measures.
Dr. Dolin is a professor of medicine (microbiology and molecular genetics) and dean for academic and clinical programs at Harvard Medical School and is a senior attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston.
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