FACTBOX: Asia prepares for likely pandemic call

(Reuters) - The World Health Organization is poised to declare a pandemic with the new H1N1 influenza virus spreading widely in Australia -- far from the Americas, where it was first diagnosed in people.

But WHO officials have stressed that such a move reflects the geographic spread of the disease, and not its severity.

Below are details on what Asia is doing to combat and ward off the virus, which appears a lot milder than the H5N1 bird flu and SARS which have hit the region in recent years:

AFGHANISTAN

- A medical center has been set up at Kabul airport for possible cases, but the country cannot afford screening equipment and is relying on other countries to scan outbound passengers.

- The WHO has donated $500,000 worth of Tamiflu, which will cover 30,360 people.

AUSTRALIA

- Stockpiled 8.7 million doses of antivirals Tamiflu and Relenza, enough to cover 41 percent of its 21 million population.

BANGLADESH

- Screening incoming passengers at all airports, seaports and border transit points since the outbreak of the virus.

- Health ministry officials say the country has sufficient supplies of oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, which is produced locally.

- Local drug companies have been told to prepare to increase their production of oseltamivir in case of an emergency.

BRUNEI

- Temporary bans have been issued on importing pork from countries with high numbers of flu cases.

CAMBODIA

- Screening incoming visitors at main airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, home of the Angkor temples, the country's biggest tourist destination.