Outpacing antiviral resistance: new treatments for influenza virus infection

Influenza viruses are important human pathogens that cause seasonal outbreaks and have the potential to cause global pandemics. The ongoing evolution of influenza viruses poses a public health challenge, as antigenic drift (ie, the accumulation of mutations over time) can allow circulating viruses to evade pre-existing immunity conferred through previous infection or immunisation.1 Seasonal influenza virus vaccines can have reduced effectiveness when vaccine strain mismatches occur through antigenic drift.