 Influenza is an important cause of illness among children and adults in the United States. Influenza is likely also an important cause of illness in India, but published data on influenza infections in India are limited, especially for children. Although influenza vaccines are used routinely in the United States, including in young children, influenza vaccines have not seen widespread use in India. This is likely due to the lack of information from India about disease burden due to influenza and because the influenza vaccines have never been tested for efficacy in India. In addition, because young children are thought to be important in the spread of influenza in families, it is possible immunization of children against influenza will reduce influenza infections among older children and adults in the home. 