The University of Hong Kong revealed that a single oral dose of Baloxavir Marbokil, a flu medication, can significantly reduce the spread of influenza to close contacts.
An international team with HKUMed researchers conducted a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 1,457 flu-positive index patients aged 5 to 64 and 2,681 household contacts across 15 countries from 2019 to 2024.
Index patients were assigned to receive either baloxavir or a placebo within 48 hours of showing symptoms.
The trial found that baloxavir treatment reduced the likelihood of untreated household members catching the virus by 32 percent and also led to a quicker decrease in viral levels.
Drug-resistant viruses appeared in 7.2 percent of baloxavir-treated patients but were not found in their household contacts, indicating a low risk of transmission.
Additionally, no new safety issues were noted, with adverse events reported in 4.6 percent of patients taking baloxavir compared to 7.0 percent in the placebo group.
“These results highlight baloxavir’s potential not only to treat influenza but also to reduce its spread within communities,” said Benjamin Cowling, Helen and Francis Zimmern Professor in Population Health, Chair Professor of Epidemiology, and Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at HKUMed.
“The study underscores the complementary role of antiviral drugs alongside vaccination, particularly in unvaccinated populations or during pandemics when vaccines may not be immediately available,” HKUMed stated.
(Cheng Wong)
