Influenza-related burden in China: current situation, challenges and response strategies

Influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are both contagious respiratory illnesses. A co-infection of influenza and COVID-19 will prolong the illness, worsen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and increase fatality, especially for senior citizens, children and people with chronic diseases; the co-infection condition could also bring heavy disease and economic burden to the sufferers, their families, and the society. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance influenza prevention strategies under the global COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we summarize the disease and economic burden of influenza and discuss current problems and challenges in influenza prevention and related researches in China. In the end, we put forward relevant strategies to achieve the goal of long-term influenza prevention.