A single dose of the antiviral drug baloxavir (Xofluza) can help reduce the spread of flu to close contacts, according to international research.
The prescription antiviral drug is used to treat flu symptoms, but this new study has shown it can also help reduce virus transmission.
The drug rapidly reduces influenza virus shedding, which suggested to researchers that it may reduce transmission.
The study included almost 1,500 patients aged 5-64 who received either baloxavir or placebo within 48 hours after flu symptom onset.
They then looked at whether household contacts caught the flu over the next five days.
The rate of transmission of the flu virus in those who took baloxavir was 9.5% compared to 13.4% with placebo - a 29% reduction in flu transmission.
The authors said that while vaccination will remain the main way to control flu, an antiviral drug with effects on both illness and transmission is a "welcome addition" to the overall strategy for flu control.
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