Negotiations are under way to stockpile bird flu-fighting drugs for Southeast Asia to help guard against a potential global flu pandemic, the United Nations health agency said.
The World Health Organisation hopes to initially acquire one million doses of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu - the only drug known to be effective for humans.
Talks are under way with Swiss drug firm Hoffmann-La Roche to allow the medicine to be distributed for free or at discounts.
WHO currently has only enough Tamiflu to treat about 125,000 people.
The United States already has enough Tamiflu to treat 2.3 million and is working to acquire more and Britain, France, Finland and Norway are placing orders that would cover up to 40 per cent of their populations.
Bird flu drug race
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