Showing posts with label flu pandemic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flu pandemic. Show all posts

Monday 27 April 2009

Estimates of economic costs of a flu pandemic

Estimates of economic costs of a flu pandemic

If the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico becomes a pandemic, the economic consequences could be great. Below are estimates of the costs of such a disaster:

Reuters
Last Updated: 10:25AM BST 27 Apr 2009

* The World Bank estimated in 2008 that a flu pandemic could cost $3 trillion (£2 trillion) and result in a nearly 5pc drop in world gross domestic product. The World Bank has estimated that more than 70m people could die worldwide in a severe pandemic.

* Australian independent think-tank Lowy Institute for International Policy estimated in 2006 that in the worst-case scenario, a flu pandemic could wipe $4.4 trillion off global economic output.

* Two reports in the United States in 2005 estimated that a flu pandemic could cause a serious recession of the US economy, with immediate costs of $500bn-$675bn.

* SARS in 2003 disrupted travel, trade and the workplace and cost the Asia Pacific region $40bn. It lasted for six months, killing 775 of the 8,000 people it infected in 25 countries.

Related Articles
Recession keeps tight grip on UK economy, NIESR warns
Asian markets retreat on swine flu fears
UK production shrinks to lowest in over 40 years
Australians rip up optimistic forecast and predict recession
Japanese exports fall 50 per cent to record low

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5228878/Estimates-of-economic-costs-of-a-flu-pandemic.html