British experts from the Medical Research Council warned that the bird flu pandemic had the potential of killing between 50,000 to 75o,000 if it hit the United Kingdom.
A team from the Council will reportedly travel to China and Vietnam to investigate the bird flu outbreak which killed 60 there.
In a radio report, Medical Officer Liam Donaldson told reporter that in a normal year some 12,000 people die from the flu, according to <i>Xinhuanet</i>. He added that the worst case scenario what not likely this winter though.
The council which discovered the flu virus in 1933 is regarded as a world leader in bird flu research.
Nearly 2.5 million doses of anti-viral drugs have been stocked by the UK in preparation for such an outbreak.
