Most influenza grows best in the upper airway passages, however some variants can spread into other parts of the body and grow (replicate) in other areas, including the brain. So, yes, some influenza can infect the brain.
It is a problem with inhaled Relenza that it does not fight influenza in other parts of the body besides the airways.
However, the types of influenza that spread most readily and rapidly are the types that grow in the upper airways best, so they can spread by coughing and sneezing. Relenza will treat these.
This is why we need intravenous Relenza and perhaps oral relenza.
Secondly, it depends whether the role of antivirals is just for treatment or for prophylaxis as well(prevention/protection). If it is for prophylaxis, then Relenza is clearly superior and resistance proof. This depends on the various policies of the relevant health authorities in different countries.
I would argue that if H5N1 maintains it's current lethality we may find that any treatment is practically futile; by the time the virus has infected enough to cause symptoms and you have gotten yourself to a place to get treatment it may be too late. So the best use of antivirals in a pandemic may be to protect people before they get ill, to give essential workers confidence to go out and keep essential services going. Then it makes no difference whether or not it penetrates the brain.
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