So what should I do?

Should I try to buy Tamiflu?

No. It is extremely difficult to find any in Britain as the stocks are so low. If you buy it from the internet, it will cost a fortune and you may end up with a counterfeit drug, so beware.

Would it save me during a pandemic?

Tamiflu can be taken as a preventative drug but there is no evidence that you will not catch the virus if you take it. If you take it when you first have symptoms, it will relieve them and may help you fight the virus.

What other drugs could I buy?

There is another antiviral drug called Relenza, but this has to be inhaled and is therefore not quite so easy to use. You are also likely to find it difficult to get hold of through your doctor.

If there is not enough Tamiflu, why can't the world make more?

Roche, the manufacturers, has hugely increased capacity, but it is complex to make. The company has said it will look at granting licences to others who can prove they have the facilities to manufacture it.

When will there be a vaccine?

The best vaccine of all would be one that cannot be made yet, because until the virus starts to spread easily, its genetic make-up won't be known. After that, it will take four to six months for a vaccine to be available.