By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent
A virulent new bird flu virus that has killed more than 20 people in just four weeks could become a global threat, public health experts have warned.
At least 126 people in China have been infected with the H7N9 virus, most of them near Shanghai. So far around 20% have died. Another 60% have been treated in hospital for serious lung problems.
Public Health England (PHE) has taken the precaution of writing to GPs, warning them to be alert for symptoms in travellers returning from the Far East.
Dr John Watson, Head of Respiratory Diseases at PHE, told a news briefing at the Science Media Centre in London: "There may be a temptation in the UK to think this is happening a long way away.
The first case outside China was in taiwan "But this should be taken very seriously. We need to be vigilant.
"At the moment the risk here is low. But we are taking steps to prepare and do more if it becomes a worldwide threat."
So far all the cases are thought to have been infected though contact with live chickens. There is no current evidence of the virus spreading between people.
But scientists say the virus has already acquired two of the five critical changes to its genes that are needed for human-to-human transmission.
Professor Wendy Barclay, chair in influenza virology at Imperial College London, said: "That's why we are so worried.
"We are not sure why people get so sick with this virus. A lot of these patients were old or had underlying health problems."
Attempts are being made to isolate virus samples that could be used to make a vaccine. Tests have also confirmed that the virus is killed by the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.
Experts warned that cynicism must not hold back the global response to the virus.
No vaccine against the N7N9 virus is available as yet After the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the World Health Organisation was panned for overreacting to a relatively mild strain.
In the UK, the Department of Health was criticised for spending so much on vaccines and drugs, some of which weren't needed.
But Prof Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust's Major Overseas Programme in Vietnam, said: "There is a risk of inertia, but thankfully we are not seeing that.
"We have to manage expectations, communicate risk and be honest about what we know."
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