Flu Treatment for Upcoming Season Clarified

VAIL, COLO. â€" The recommended antiviral therapy during the coming influenza season will depend on whether a patient has laboratory-confirmed novel influenza A(H1N1). In patients with confirmed novel influenza A(H1N1), or in patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H3N2) or B, the first-line antiviral is oseltamivir (Tamiflu). However, in patients with a positive laboratory test for influenza A or seasonal A(H1N1), the preferred agent is zanamivir (Relenza), according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.