Dear all, We are seeing a sudden spurt of upper respiratory tract infections with severe pain in throat and cough. Many of them are covid negative. Its advisable to get h1n1 pcr done for these patients. In such patients oral favipiravir is doing a good job in those with viral fever. The dose of favipiravir in such patients is different: 1600 mg bid for 1st day and 600 mg bid for 5 to 10 days. Favipiravir is a broad spectrum antiviral effective against influenza viruses (even those who are oseltamivir resistant). It also acts against arena virus, bunya virus and so on apart from corona virus. It is superior to oseltamivir in studies, especially when the viral load is high and infleunza virus has resistance. In japan it is used as a broad spectrum anti influenza medicine. It has been proven in studies to be a life saving drug in severe influenza infections if started on time. Dr Hardik Thakker, MD MED, ECFMG (USA).