Over-the-counter treatments for flu and fever can provide short-term relief of symptoms. If prescription drugs are indicated for prevention or treatment, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.

During the current outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness (for example, hospitalized patients) and people who are sick who have a condition that places them at high risk for serious flu-related complications.

People infected with either seasonal or 2009 H1N1 flu may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.