International conference on influenza

The first European influenza conference is being held in St Julian's next week, bringing together about 600 scientists and experts involved in every aspect of influenza, from basic science to policy and practice.

The purpose of the three-day conference, sponsored by nine major companies of which Aventis is the main one, is to advance the understanding and control of the important and serious disease.

The Malta Scientific Meeting is being held by the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI), which consists of a group of independent influenza scientists dedicated to reducing the impact of influenza in Europe.

It works in close collaboration with the World Health Organisation and industry to control the impact of influenza.

Every winter up to 100,000 per million people get influenza.

The idea behind the first European influenza conference, being held at the Westin Dragonara Resort, is to keep influenza in the limelight of the scientific and health communities, contributing to the fulfilment of ESWI's mission: the reduction of the impact of influenza in Europe.