Viral infections in a target region can be inhibited by imposing an alternating electric field in the target region for a duration of time. The alternating electric field has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field is imposed in the target region for the duration of time, the alternating electric field inhibits infection of the cells in the target region by the virus. Optionally, the inhibition of viral infections using the alternating electric field approach can be combined with delivering an antiviral agent to the target region so that a therapeutically effective dose of the antiviral agent is present in the target region while the alternating electric fields are imposed.