Influenza is a major cause of severe respiratory infections with excessive morbidity and mortality globally. Annual epidemics or pandemics still exert a major health and socioeconomic burden. Vaccination remains the principal means for preventing influenzarelated morbidity and mortality. However, antiviral agents present with major beneficial effects since they could improve viral clearance, shorten illness duration and hospitalizations, diminish complications, reduce death risks and limit disease transmission. Decisions about starting antiviral treatment should not wait for test results or laboratory confirmation of influenza. When there is clinical suspicion of influenza and antiviral treatment is indicated, antiviral treatment should be started within 48 hours after the symptom onset. Oral oseltamivir for 5 days represent the optimal therapeutic regimen for both prophylaxis and treatment of influenza infection. Inhaled zanamivir is the first line of treatment for influenza infection (complicated or uncomplicated) in immunocompromised individuals or in cases of confirmed H1N1 infections with suspected resistance to oseltamivir. This short review summarizes the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Public Health England (PHE) recommendations for the antiviral treatment and prophylaxis of influenza infection.