Influenza Antiviral Reduces Infection Rate

CHICAGO-Researchers at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherpay (ICAAC) reported a new influenza medication limits the spread of the infectious disease within households.

The Family Influenza Transmission (FIT) study was presented at the conference, showing that simultaneous treatment of the person initially infected, along with prophylaxis treatment of other household members, protected those not infected in 63% of households. Tamiflu, known as oseltamivir phosphate generically, has shown to reduce flu-like symptoms and reduce the ability of the virus to infect others.

Tamiflu is a Roche Laboratory product.