For years the UK's health professionals have been preparing for a pandemic flu outbreak that they fear could lead to huge numbers of deaths and seriously disrupt the functioning of the nation.

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Most of that money will go to the Health and Human Services Department to prepare for an influenza pandemic, such as an avian flu outbreak.

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Reserves are also retained to pay for for unexpected events such as a flu pandemic or a foot and mouth outbreak.

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The World Health Organization on Monday raised its pandemic alert level in response to the outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico.

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