Report of the first A sia– P acific F orum on antiviral treatment of influenza, A sia– P acific A lliance for the C ontrol of I nfluenza, B angkok, 14 June 2012

On 14 June 2012, the Asia–Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza ( APACI ) convened the first Antiviral Forum jointly with the Influenza Foundation of Thailand and the Thailand Department of Disease Control. The goals of the meeting were to improve pandemic planning in the region from lessons learned during the 2009 pandemic, particularly with regard to the safety and efficacy of antiviral use; gain a better understanding of the therapeutic use of antivirals in seasonal influenza; review and analyse the official influenza control policies of Asia–Pacific countries and evidence gaps to support policy development; and to establish collaborative relationships to promote best practices in the use of antivirals for the treatment of influenza. The urgent need for education highlighting the importance of influenza and the benefits of antiviral drug use in the Asia–Pacific region was identified.