This year’s flu strain surprised health officials when two of the world’s most common antiviral drugs showed no effect on the most recent strain.

On Jan. 14, Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, held a news conference warning doctors to stop prescribing the two drugs, Amantadine and Rimantadine. She also recommended the use of Tamiflu and Relenza as good replacements.

“These are scientific recommendations, we have no legal authority over any physician or regulate their adhering to these standards,” said Lola Russell, a CDC spokesman. “We are committed to achieving and improving the nation’s health.”

Karen Grush, health administrator for DeKalb County, spoke about using this research to guide the county’s health departments.

“Generally, we get information from the Illinois Department of Public Health as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If it is something that affects us, we follow it very closely,” Grush said.

Health officials in DeKalb, focused on the same concerns as the CDC, are making sure ample supplies of the two new drugs are available for local pharmacists.

“I do have Tamiflu. We have quite a bit of it just in case it is needed,” said Thomas O’Shea, local pharmacist and co-owner at Eggleston’s Pharmacy, 403 E. State St. “It seems whenever there is a flu outbreak, it’s all of a sudden and it is everybody. We’re beginning to see some cases locally.”