[Influenza surveillance in Germany].

Currently, two systems for the monitoring of influenza are in use in Germany, which, if appropriate cooperation is forth-coming, may complement each other: The system of the influenza working group at the Robert Koch Institute that makes use of the measuring parameters ARD (acute respiratory disease) and viral detection (PCR/isolation) together with a sentinel system of reporting physicians to establish morbidity and mortality, provides information via the Internet. The delay associated with reporting is approximately one week and is longer for viral isolation. Cooperation in the European influenza surveillance system (EISS) and,via the National Reference Centers, with the WHO global monitoring system. The RealFlu system employing the parameters ILI (influenza-like illness) and rapid influenza tests with a sentinel system of reporting physicians, which is designed to provide accurate and regional information on influenza activity. The information is updated on a day-to-day basis, and is available to anyone on the Internet.