The elderly, the very young and those with heart or lung disease are particularly at risk of succumbing to influenza and of developing complications.

Because influenza may be a serious illness for an individual and an epidemic can cause many deaths and considerable illness with loss of time from work, some form of prevention may be necessary.

Amantadine is a drug which can prevent infection by the influenza virus if taken regularly. It can also protect against other viral infections.

It does not give lasting protection, only while it is being taken. However, it is too expensive for widespread use for the whole population during influenza outbreaks but may be of value in those particularly at risk and who are not covered by immunisation obtained from the vaccine.

One attack of influenza will produce antibodies which will persist and render the person either fully or partially immune.

However, the A strain of virus has the ability to slightly change its character and so antibodies to a previous virus may not be fully effective against the new virus.

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