• 150,000 people are hospitalized and 20,000-40,000 people die every year in the U.S. due to influenza and its complications.
• Approximately 30,000,000 people in the U.S. are infected by influenza in a non-epidemic year.
• Estimated influenza-related costs are $10,000,000,000 per year.
• A comprehensive influenza disease management plan has the potential to reduce these costs and improve healthcare.

"It's just the flu" is a phrase commonly used each flu season, but that trivialization misrepresents the economic consequences of the illness. Tens of millions of people of all ages have a seven to ten day bout with high fever, cough, headache, muscle pain and sore throat each non-epidemic year. They miss work by being sick or caring for sick loved ones. Every winter, over 150,000 persons are hospitalized and 20,000 people die in the U.S. due to influenza and its complications. The cost is reported to be in excess of $10,000,000,000 - all in the span of only four months.

"Just the flu" does not describe the broad impact of this viral illness. New technology and coordination of a comprehensive plan can improve the future of influenza management.

A comprehensive influenza disease management program can reduce costs and improve the quality of healthcare. The ZymeTx Influenza Disease Management Program includes widespread vaccination, use of the rapid point-of-care ZstatFlu™ influenza diagnostic test, and early antiviral treatment.