A halogenated benzamide derivative characterized by greater specificity for viral pathogens and less disruptive to beneficial gut microflora, according to formula (III): in which R<；SUB>；1 <；/SUB>；is a halogen atom, and R<；SUB>；2<；/SUB>；-R<；SUB>；6 <；/SUB>；are independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, C<；SUB>；1<；/SUB>；-C<；SUB>；4 <；/SUB>；alkyl, -C<；SUB>；1<；/SUB>；-C<；SUB>；4 <；/SUB>；alkoxy, acyloxy, nitro, halogen, -C(O)R<；SUB>；7 <；/SUB>；where R7 is -C1-C4 alkyl, or, aromatic including salts and hydrates of these compounds.
