Influenza transmission: research needs for informing infection control policies and practice.

This paper by the Influenza Team, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control examines the research gaps in our understanding of how to prevent or reduce transmission of flu including: • Is there significant pre-symptomatic and/or asymptomatic spread (transmission from people who are infected but never develop symptoms)? • How is influenza transmitted? In particular what is the relative contribution of aerosol transmission under normal conditions?• How effective, practical and acceptable are some of the more stringent measures suggested by some authorities for infection control in high-risk and lower-risk settings, especially in places where people with influenza are being cared for Eurosurveill. 2007;12(19).