The problem with bird flu is what to do in case of a pandemic. Bird flu is caused by influenza A viruses.

Powerful governments tried to develop a plan to apply in case of a pandemic. Since 1997 it is known that UK had developed a pandemic plan that has been updated until October 2005 when it was published.

The plan shows the actions that Government and other authorities are prepared to take in case of a pandemic. In their plan are mentioned the action that different organizations would have to take in the possibility of a pandemic in order to stop or at least slow down the spread of infection and minimize the problems. The plan is made after the recommendations of World Health Organization for national pandemic plans. The plan is believed to be an efficient one hoping that in case of pandemic to help.

One of the most dangerous subtypes of influenza A viruses, the virus called H5N1 is believed to be the next pandemic cause. Specialists wonder about it and about the way it got to transmit from one person to another, knowing that it was a virus that only affected birds. Specialists are concerned about the ways this virus can mutate and wonder if it can mix with another human flu virus in order to form a virus that spreads easier among humans. Many questions are raised over this subject but we have a certitude. Specialists admit that H5N1 viruses are vulnerable to a class of antiviral drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors, even if it is believed that H5N1 is resistant to the alternative antiviral drug called amantadine.

UK government purchased a quarter of the population necessary of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and distributed these antivirals before September 2006. The UK department of health is stockpiling 3.3 million doses of H5N1 vaccines that may be used in healthcare workers if it would be a close enough match between the vaccine strain and the emerging pandemic strain.

This vaccine might be helpful at the time of a pandemic but it may also be unsuitable. Specialists thought about this problem too. They ask if the H5N1 virus will mutate would the vaccine be any good. Their answer is negative. They believe that in time, after suffering some changes, the virus H5N1 will immune to the vaccine because of the mutation. If the virus is going to chance substantially there is a low probability for the vaccine to be effective and than a new one should be developed.