Drug
to treat flu also protects against it
Zanamivir, an antiviral medication
that can be inhaled as a powder, reduces the number of flu cases even
among young people who have been vaccinated.
References:
Monto, A.S., et al. 1999. Zanamivir in the prevention of influenza
among healthy adults. Journal of the American Medical Association
282(July 7):31.
Further Readings:
Couch, R.B. 1997. A new antiviral agent for influenza—is there
a clinical niche? New England Journal of Medicine 337(Sept.
25):927.
Dollin R., et al. 1982. A controlled trial of amantadine and
rimantadine in the prophylaxis of influenza A infection. New England
Journal of Medicine 307:580.
Glezen, W.P. Serious morbidity and mortality associated with influenza
epidemics. Epidemiological Review 4:25.
Hayden, F.G., et al. 1997. Efficacy and safety of the neuraminidase
inhibitor zanamivir in the treatment of influenzavirus infections.
New England Journal of Medicine 337(Sept. 25):874.
Hayden, F.G., et al. 1989. Emergence and apparent transmission
of rimantadine-resistant influenza A virus in families. New England
Journal of Medicine 321:1696.
Laver, W.G., N. Bischofberger, and R.G. Webster. 1999. Disarming
flu viruses. Scientific American (January):79.
Patriarca, P.A. 1999. New options for prevention and control of influenza.
Journal of the American Medical Association 282(July 7):75.
Seachrist, L. 1995. Using peptide to block the flu. Science News
148(Aug. 5):92.
Seppa, N. 1997. Chicken flu
virus raises concerns. Science News 152(Dec. 13):372.
Wu, C. 1997. Drug could provide alternative to flu shot. Science
News 151(Feb. 1):69.
Sources:
Fred Y. Aoki
University of Manitoba
730 William Avenue, Room 510
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W3
Canada
W. Paul Glezen
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Microbiology
1 Baylor Plaza
Houston, TX 77030
Linda C. Lambert
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 3255
Mailstop Code 7630
Bethesda, MD 20817
Arnold S. Monto
University of Michigan
School of Public Health
109 Observatory Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
From Science
News, Vol. 156, No. 2, July 10, 1999, p. 23.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
