As international health experts finalised plans at a UN conference in Geneva, on the spread of bird flu, Vietnam, reported its 42nd death from the avian virus.
To date over 60 people, mainly in Asia, have died from the virus.
Although veterinary experts at the UN's agriculture agency say they believe that eradicating the H5N1 virus in poultry is the best defense against a global pandemic, many are dubious that will happen.
It would apparently be feasible if enough money was spent as then the virus could be eliminated from the world's poultry population within a year.
However for this to be achieved much more money needs to be spent.
The officials from over 100 countries, meeting at the World Health Organization (WHO), have planned what needs to be done in preparation for a human pandemic.
Bernard Vallat, the director general of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) told the conference that reducing the presence of the virus, will reduce the probability of a human pandemic.
Joseph Domenech, chief veterinary officer of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), stressed that time was vital and early warning systems need much more work.
Although there have been no outbreaks of a human pandemic strain anywhere in the world, health experts say the signs are there that one is coming.