Summary of WHO clinical practice guidelines for influenza

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-087397.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-02-27T02:22:19-08:00

In September 2024, the World Health Organization issued updated clinical practice guidelines for the management of influenza, which include 29 recommendations targeting seasonal and zoonotic influenza.[1] For severe influenza, the WHO conditionally recommends treatment with oseltamivir within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, and recommends baloxavir for patients with a high risk of progression.[1] For patients exposed to zoonotic influenza and those at extremely high risk, WHO recommends prophylaxis with baloxavir, laninimavir, oseltamivir, or zanamivir.[1] The recommendations strongly advise against the use of antibiotics in patients with mild influenza and against corticosteroids, macrolides, and some other adjunctive therapies in patients with severe influenza.[1] The recommendations are based on four systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials with low to very low certainty of evidence.[1] The guideline also includes recommendations for diagnostic testing for mild and severe influenza to enable rapid and accurate treatment decisions.[1]