http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1432956.htm
The United Nations World Health Organisation says many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are yet to draw up firm plans to fight a potential flu pandemic.
Health officials warn poorer countries pose the greatest risk to the international community.
The WHO says only seven Asian governments have approved plans to fight a flu pandemic, even though 60 people have died of bird flu in Asia since 2003.
WHO spokesman, Bob Dietz, says Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia are of particular concern.
He says many countries in the Western Pacific still do not have a plan of their own.
Bird flu is transmitted to humans by infected birds.
But experts fear the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form easily passed from person to person, creating a powerful new strain of influenza that could kill millions of people worldwide.
The United Nations World Health Organisation says many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are yet to draw up firm plans to fight a potential flu pandemic.
Health officials warn poorer countries pose the greatest risk to the international community.
The WHO says only seven Asian governments have approved plans to fight a flu pandemic, even though 60 people have died of bird flu in Asia since 2003.
WHO spokesman, Bob Dietz, says Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia are of particular concern.
He says many countries in the Western Pacific still do not have a plan of their own.
Bird flu is transmitted to humans by infected birds.
But experts fear the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form easily passed from person to person, creating a powerful new strain of influenza that could kill millions of people worldwide.