British Health officials have confirmed they are finalising a new national plan to tackle a UK outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus.
The disease has killed 45 people across Asia since 2003, with observers warning any global epidemic could potentially dwarf the worst health disasters in history - and kill as many as 40 million people.
Vietnam has seen 33 people die after contracting the virus, with 12 dying in Thailand.
Cases have also been reported across Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos and South Korea.
