Antiviral treatment should be started as early as possible, preferably within 48 hours after illness onset. Among hospitalized patients, treatment should be initiated on admission; several studies suggest that antiviral treatment reduces mortality and illness severity among hospitalized adults, even when initiated >48 hours after illness onset. The decision to initiate antiviral treatment should be made regardless of vaccination status and should not wait for laboratory confirmation of influenza; especially the decision should not be dependent on insensitive assays, such as rapid influenza diagnostic tests, because of frequent false negatives. More information on antivirals is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/professionals/antivirals/antiviral-dosage-duration.pdf