Influenzanet is a system to monitor the activity of influenza-like-illness (ILI) with the aid of volunteers via the internet

http://www.influenzanet.eu/

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Developing the framework for an epidemic forecast infrastructure.
http://www.epiwork.eu/

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives.

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Participating countries and volunteers:

The Netherlands 20244
Belgium 7329
Portugal 1641
Italy 4032
Great Britain 5281
Sweden 1589
Germany 37
Austria 7
Switzerland 5
France 3786
InfluenzaNet is a system to monitor the activity of influenza-like-illness (ILI) with the aid of volunteers via the internet. It has been operational in The Netherlands and Belgium (since 2003), Portugal (since 2005) and Italy (since 2008), and the current objective is to implement InfluenzaNet in more European countries.

In contrast with the traditional system of sentinel networks of mainly primary care physicians coordinated by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), InfluenzaNet obtains its data directly from the population. This creates a fast and flexible monitoring system whose uniformity allows for direct comparison of ILI rates between countries.

Any resident of a country where InfluenzaNet is implemented can participate by completing an online application form, which contains various medical, geographic and behavioural questions. Participants are reminded weekly to report any symptoms they have experienced since their last visit. The incidence of ILI is determined on the basis of a uniform case definition.

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Weekly incidence of influenza-like illness in Flusurvey participants.

This graph compares two cohorts of individuals: those who have had the flu vaccine this season (blue) and those who haven't (red). To do this, we put our participants into these two groups ("cohorts"), always (anonymously) matching someone who has been vaccinated with someone else who hasn't but is otherwise equal (same age group and risk factors). The incidence of influenza-like illness is shown for both these groups. We would expect the two lines to diverge only when there is flu around.

This graph compares two cohorts of individuals: those who use public transport (blue) and those who don't (red). To do this, we put our participants into these two groups ("cohorts"), always (anonymously) matching someone who uses public transport with someone else who doesn't but is otherwise equal (same age group and risk factors). The incidence of influenza-like illness is shown for both these groups.

Covnersational contacts

The distribution of conversational contacts, as reported by the participants of our social contact survey.