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Public Consultation: Expert Opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for prevention and treatment of influenza

Public Consultation: Expert Opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for prevention and treatment of influenza

Preliminary Scientific Advice: Expert Opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for prevention and treatment of influenza

The report is open for public consultation and all comments are welcome. They will be considered and addressed by the authors prior to publication of the final report.

The deadline for comments is 16 March 2016.

Current recommendations on the use of the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza disease are appropriate, finds a new expert opinion from ECDC, which today opens for public consultation.

The review of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the use of neuraminidase inhibitors for prevention and treatment of influenza finds that the studies presented strengthen the evidence base for the use of these antiviral treatments.

Continued debate surrounding the effectiveness and safety of these antivirals has led to some uncertainty within the public health community regarding the antivirals’ potential benefits as a treatment option or as prophylaxis for influenza disease. As a result, the public health benefits may be being missed.

The ECDC expert opinion demonstrates that there is evidence for use of neuraminidase inhibitors for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza. It also highlights the importance of further studies and the urgent need for the development of new antivirals with greater efficacy.