Three of the antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) have been approved for prevention of the flu. These drugs are not, however, a substitute for influenza vaccination. All of these drugs are prescription drugs, and a doctor should be consulted before the drugs are used for preventing the flu.

At this time, Tamiflu® and Relenza® are the most likely antiviral medications to be used in a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus. The effectiveness of these antivirals would vary depending on the level of resistance an influenza virus may have to one or more of these medications. No. Although the government is stockpiling antiviral medications, there are not enough now for everyone.

Antiviral medications are used along with vaccines to prevent and treat influenza. They most often are used to control flu outbreaks in institutions, such as nursing homes or hospitals, where people at high risk for complications from flu are in close contact with each other.

this time, Tamiflu and Relenza are the most likely antiviral medications to be used in a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus. The effectiveness of these antivirals would vary depending on how resistant the virus is to one or more of the medications. Although the government is stockpiling antiviral medications, at this time there are not enough for everyone.

This is a real possibility, so we have to be prepared to implement all of the other measures that will help control the spread of influenza, such as practicing good hygiene and limiting interactions between people.

Antiviral medicines are used along with the flu vaccine to treat the symptoms of the flu. When used correctly, these medicines can reduce the amount of time you feel sick by 1 or 2 days and make you less contagious to others. Antiviral medications do not cure the flu and are not used for people who have a common cold.

These are prescription drugs that can reduce influenza symptoms and shorten the length of time people are sick. The drugs may also make a person less likely to spread influenza to others. To be effective, they must be taken within two days of becoming sick. Some antiviral medications may also be used to prevent influenza if they are taken over a long period of time.

The use of antivirals when they are not needed increases the chance that flu viruses will become resistant. Antivirals should not be taken without instructions from a doctor or other healthcare provider.

A. Antivirals are expensive, have a limited shelf life, and may prove ineffective. The tremendous expense of stockpiling antivirals is far beyond the scope of local government at this time. That said, Canada , and many European nations have adequate supplies (enough to treat 25-30% of the population), and it is hoped that the U.S. government will decide to follow this path in the coming year.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or cough into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

In a flu pandemic, it is unlikely that there will be enough antiviral medications for everyone to prevent people from getting the flu or to treat everyone who does get the flu. Federal, state, and local agencies are developing plans for obtaining, distributing, and using antiviral medications in case of pandemic flu.

No. These drugs have to be stored properly and they have a relatively limited shelf life. Some people who are concerned might want to check with their provider to see if they should avoid a particular medication. But please remember -- when we’re talking about influenza, drugs are not necessarily the answer. We still need to remember to practice good hygiene measures such as frequent hand-washing, proper cough hygiene, and staying home from work/school when ill.

Three antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) are approved for use in preventing the flu. These are prescription medications, and a doctor should be consulted before they are used.

Not exactly. When started within the first two days of illness, they can reduce the duration of the disease but cannot cure it outright. Four different antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir) have been approved for treating the flu. All four drugs can reduce the duration of flu by about one day if taken within 2 days of when symptoms begin. The four drugs differ in terms of side effects.

The use of antivirals when they are not needed increases the chance that flu viruses will become resistant. Antivirals should not be taken without instructions from a doctor or other healthcare provider. Provides information on campus disaster training and simulations, preparing for emergencies, and emergency resources. Provides information on infectious disease courses available at UC Berkeley and the Center's Pandemic Influenza Project.

There are four different influenza antiviral medications, which have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and/or prevention of influenza as follows; amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir. All four work against influenza A viruses. However, sometimes influenza virus strains can become resistant to one or more of these drugs, and thus the drugs may not always work.

The best thing you can do to avoid the flu each year is get a flu shot in the fall. Another thing you should do is wash your hands frequently and stay healthy.

Get vaccinated with the flu shot this year. The vaccine for the current flu season doesn’t provide protection against bird flu but protecting people against conventional flu could make them stronger against a new illness. Take some common sense steps to bolster your health and immune system – eat healthy foods, wash your hands, get some exercise, stay home from work or school if you are ill, and stop smoking.

this time, the risk to most people from avian flu is low. If you are planning to visit areas affected by avian flu, please see the information for travelers. Practice good health habits everyday: wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze. For more personal hygiene tips, please see Fighting the Flu. Do not touch sick or dead birds and avoid touching bird droppings. If you touch a sick/dead bird or bird droppings, wash your hands with warm water and soap right away.

A. Under the current U.S. National Health and Human Services Plan little if any of the necessary medication would be coming to the San Juans. There are about 6 million courses of medication for the entire nation as of the end of 2005. To complicate matters further, resistance to that particular drug seems to be on the rise. In short, here in the islands we will likely be looking at taking care of our sick much like they did in 1918 (keeping the patient warm, hydrated, and cared for).

Antiviral drugs such a Tamiflu ® are helpful in treating regular influenza symptoms and in lessening the potential for severe complications.

avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Influenza vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza as the vaccine was meant for human influenza. However, the vaccine can help reduce the chance of complications and hospitalization from human influenza; hence it is recommended for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses. Influenza vaccine can also reduce the chance of genetic re-assortment and subsequent emergence of influenza strain with pandemic potential.