A World Health Organisation official says potential vaccines against a new strain of bird flu are being developed but it is too early to know how dangerous the virus could be.
The H7N9 influenza virus has killed six people in eastern China. Fourteen people are confirmed to have been infected.
The strain is known to circulate among birds but the organisation says there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
The WHO says it is in contact with Chinese authorities and flu experts worldwide are trying to assess the pandemic potential of the virus strain.
The director of the organisation's influenza centre, Dr John McCauley, told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme on Friday that flu experts worldwide will already be developing potential vaccines.
However, he said much is unknown about the new strain and it will be some time before doctors know how dangerous it is and a proper vaccine can be developed.
A New Zealand virologist told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report on Friday that this country is one of the best prepared in the world to deal with a new strain of bird flu.
Dr Lance Jennings is a member of the National Influenza Strategy Group and says New Zealand's pandemic plan has been updated since the H1N1 pandemic, also known as swine flu, in 2009 and is one of the best in the world.
The BBC reports that tests suggest the virus could be treated with the anti-influenza drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.
