Pandemics are of a great danger especially in this century where global traveling and poverty are eminent in every corner of the world. These two are by far the most prominent reasons why a pandemic is imminent and forthcoming. Avian Influenza caused by H5N1 virus is in the list of possible outbreak in a pandemic scale which can take toll on millions of lives. This paper discusses the history of the recent outbreak, why a pandemic is possible in the near future, concerns about avian influenza vaccines and antiviral drugs, the two mechanisms how H5N1 virus can cause a pandemic outbreak, and how the recent tsunami affects in propagation of this disease.
             Avian influenza pandemic is associated with high morbidity, excess mortality, and social and economic disruption. In 2004, the world received signs that a pandemic is in the near vicinity since sporadic but substantial outbreaks of the avian influenza have been reported in the Southeast Asia in poultry. The avian influenza is caused by the H5N1 virus, which jumps species and infects humans, yielding a high mortality rate. Its first substantial appearance was in poultry in December of 2003 in Korea, and then it was reported in two other farms further south. However, its origin of infection and the mode of spread was noted "unknown" by the country's veterinary officer (Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic threat). In the next few months, more than 400 outbreaks were detected affecting 3 million poultry. This was prominent since H5N1 crossed easily from poultry to humans, and all that needed to be done in furthering infection was slaughtering and preparing the infected chicken for cooking.
             Outbreaks of influenza H5N1 has occurred among poultry in eight countries in Asia which are Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam during late 2003 and early 2004. At that time, more than 100 million birds in the affected countries either died fr...