The Food and Drug Administration last week approved a new antiviral flu medication for patients aged 12 and older. While yearly vaccination is the primary means of preventing and controlling flu outbreaks, antiviral drugs can reduce flu symptoms and duration when used within 48 hours of becoming sick. “Having more treatment options that work in different ways to attack the virus is important because flu viruses can become resistant to antiviral drugs,” said Debra Birnkrant, M.D., director of the Division of Antiviral Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Related News Articles

Headline
At least 24 million people have had seasonal flu this season, according to estimates  from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 49,000…
Headline
Respiratory illness activity remains high across the country, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal flu…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released an advisory recommending clinicians expedite subtyping of type A influenza samples from…
Headline
The Louisiana Department of Health yesterday announced that a patient hospitalized last month for H5N1 bird flu has died, becoming the first U.S. death from…
Headline
AHA’s latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 focuses on vaccination during peak respiratory virus season. The…
Headline
AHA's latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 celebrates the changing foliage, Thanksgiving and more. Download the…