[Influenza and flu prophylaxis--a current medical issue].

Influenza is a disease which returns every epidemic season in different degrees of severity, especially in high-risk groups. According to current data, 5-25% of the world population contract this disease and mortality because of influenza reaches 0.5-1 million people. However, this problem is still not dealt with appropriately and is even disregarded. In contrast to other viruses influenza cannot be eradicatedas a result of its changeability but post-influenza complications can be dealt with using prophylactic methods. Since 9 May 1977 there have been more and more fatal cases of human infections with bird flu. The danger of another outburst of a flu pandemic is imminent. According to World Health Organisation influenza is one of the priorities of public health--that is the reason of originating International Influenza Surveillance Programme. A basic method of protecting the population against influenza, which is also the cheapest, is vaccination of as many people in the population as possible, especially those from high-risk groups. Post-influenza complications result not only in illness but also in economic losses.