Influenza is an acute viral respiratory disease. It is common among both adults and children, what results in an increased number of medical visits, hundreds of thousands of unplanned hospitalizations and thousands of deaths in patients all over the world. The highest hospitalization and mortality rates are observed among geriatric patients. Immunoprophylaxis is a fundamental form of influenza prevention. Antiviral drugs, considered most successful when introduced in early stages of the disease, are also available. A crucial aspect of influenza is an ongoing risk of pandemic outbreak. On account of risks carried by influenza and reluctance to vaccination seen both among patients and medical personnel, it seems reasonable to outline current facts about the disease.