Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Measures for Control of Influenza

  • Section 3: Prevention and Control of Influenza
  • Review Article
  • Published:
PharmacoEconomics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Influenza viruses cause recurring illnesses among individuals and recurring epidemics among populations. The major effective control measure for preventing infection and illness is inactivated vaccine, which can prevent influenza illnesses and their complications when given before exposure to the virus. While inactivated vaccine is effective for preventing influenza in most individuals, recommendations for its use focus on the prevention of severe disease and death among those who are at high risk of complications. Live attenuated cold-adapted influenza vaccines are nearing availability. They are given by nasal spray and are particularly effective for preventing influenza among young children, but also for preventing influenza among young adults, and enhancing protection against influenza when given with inactivated vaccine to elderly persons.

The antiviral agents amantadine and rimantadine are related compounds that are effective for the prevention and treatment of influenza A virus infections and illnesses. Disadvantages are the rapid development of resistance during treatment and CNS adverse effects with amantadine. These drugs are also effective for outbreak control. Ribavirin is an antiviral given by small particle aerosol that is approved for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus disease; it is also effective for the treatment of influenza.Two newantiviral agents inhibit influenza viral neuraminidase activity; one is given by inhalation or intranasally (zanamivir) and the other orally (GS4104). The former is free of adverse effects, while the latter induces nausea and vomiting in some individuals. Both are effective for the prevention as well as the treatment of influenza A and B illnesses.

Thus, various measures for preventing and treating influenza are nearing availability. Their optimal use should further improve the control of influenza in individuals and populations as well as permit efforts to prevent community epidemics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1998; 47(RR-6): 1–26

    Google Scholar 

  2. Couch RB, Quarles JM, Cate TR, et al. Clinical trials with live cold-reassortant influenza virus vaccines. In: Kendal AP, Patriarca PA, editors. Options for the control of influenza. UCLA Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology; Vol. 36. New York: Alan R Liss, 1986: 223–41

    Google Scholar 

  3. Couch RB, Keitel WA, Cate TR. Improvement of inactivated influenza virus vaccines. J Infect Dis 1997; 176 Suppl. 1: S38–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Patriarca PA, Weber JA, Parker RA, et al. Efficacy of influenza vaccine in nursing homes. Reduction in illness and complications during an influenza A (H3N2) epidemic. JAMA 1985; 253: 1136–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Maassab HF. Adaptation and growth characteristics of influenza virus at 25°C. Nature 1967; 213: 612–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Edwards KM, Dupont WD, Westrich MK, et al. A randomized controlled trial of cold-adapted and inactivated vaccines for the prevention of influenza A disease. J Infect Dis 1994; 169: 68–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Belshe RB, Mendelman PM, Treanor J, et al. The efficacy of live attenuated, cold-adapted, trivalent, intranasal influenza virus vaccine in children. N Engl J Med 1998; 338: 1405–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Treanor JJ, Mattison HR, Dumyati G, et al. Protective efficacy of combined live intranasal and inactivated influenza A virus vaccines in the elderly. Ann Intern Med 1992; 117: 625–33

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Dolin R, Reichman RC, Madore HP, et al. A controlled trial of amantadine and rimantadine in the prophylaxis of influenza A infection. N Engl J Med 1982; 307 (10): 580–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Clover RD, Crawford SA, Abell TD, et al. Effectiveness of rimantadine prophylaxis of children within families. Am J Dis Child 1986; 140: 706–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. VanVoris LP, Betts RF, Hayden FG, et al. Successful treatment of naturally occurring influenza A/USSR/77 H1N1. JAMA 1981; 245: 1128–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Couch RB, Kasel JA, Glezen WP, et al. Influenza: its control in persons and populations. J Infect Dis 1986; 153 (3): 431–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Knight V, Gilbert B. Antiviral therapy with small particle aerosols. Eur J Clin Microb Infect Dis 1988; 7 (6): 721–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hayden FG, Atmar R, Schilling M, et al. Safety and efficacy of oral GS4104 in long term prophylaxis of natural influenza [abstract no. LB-6]. Final Programme, Abstracts and Exhibits Addendum of the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; 1998 Sep 24–27: San Diego, CA: American Society for Microbiology, 1998: 22

    Google Scholar 

  15. Monto AS, Robinson DP, Herlocher L, et al. Efficacy and safety of zanamivir in prevention of influenza among healthy adults [abstract no. LB-7]. Final Programme, Abstracts and Exhibits Addendum of the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; 1998 Sep 24–27: San Diego, CA: American Society for Microbiology, 1998: 22

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hayden FG, Osterhaus ADME, Treanor J, et al. Efficacy and safety of the neuraminidase inhibitor zanamivir in the treatment of influenza virus infections. N Engl J Med 1997; 337: 874–80

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Treanor JJ, Vrooman PS, Hayden FB, et al. Efficacy of oral GS4104 in treating acute influenza [abstract no. LB-4]. Final Programme, Abstracts and Exhibits Addendum of the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; 1998 Sep 24–27: San Diego, CA: American Society for Microbiology, 1998: 21

    Google Scholar 

  18. Silagy CA, Campion KJ, Keene O. The efficacy and safety of zanamivir in the treatment of influenza in otherwise healthy and ‘high risk’ individuals [abstract no. H-56]. Final Programme, Abstracts and Exhibits Addendum of the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; 1998 Sep 24–27: San Diego, CA: American Society for Microbiology, 1998: 331

    Google Scholar 

  19. Glezen WP, Couch RB. Interpandemic influenza in the Houston area, 1974–76. N Engl J Med 1978; 298: 587–92

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Robert B. Couch

Authors
  1. Robert B. Couch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Couch, R.B. Measures for Control of Influenza. Pharmacoeconomics 16 (Suppl 1), 41–45 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199916001-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199916001-00006

Keywords

Search

Navigation