Influenza A viruses are a major inclusion in respiratory panels because seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics, leading to millions of US cases each year, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths. Early detection is essential because influenza A is treatable with antivirals and its presence impacts infection control and vaccination strategies (Uyeki et al. 2018, Cozza et al. 2021).
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Cozza, V., Campbell, H., Chang, H. H., Iuliano, A. D., Paget, J., Patel, N. N., Reiner, R. C., Troeger, C., Viboud, C., Bresee, J. S., & Fitzner, J. (2021). Global Seasonal Influenza Mortality Estimates: A Comparison of 3 Different Approaches. American journal of epidemiology, 190(5), 718–727. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaa196
