Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Influenza

He impact of influenza infection is felt globally each year when the disease develops in approximately 20 percent of the world’s population. In the United States, influenza infections occur in epidemics each winter, generally between late December and early March. Recent events, including human cases of avian influenza, have heightened awareness of the threat of a pandemic and have spurred efforts to develop plans for its control. Although vaccination is the primary strategy for the prevention of influenza, there are a number of likely scenarios for which vaccination is inadequate and effective antiviral agents would be of the utmost importance. During any influenza season, antigenic drift in the virus may…