Pandemic Impact: Asia
The Wall Steet Journal is running intelligent stories such as this about the potential impact of an avian flu pandemic.
[tease]
The Asian Development Bank also said Thursday that a flu pandemic could
kill three million people in Asia, trigger economic carnage in the
region worth almost $300 billion and push the world into a recession.In its grimmest scenario, in which the psychological impact of a
pandemic lasts one year, the bank said Asia could lose almost $282.7
billion — or 6.5% of gross domestic product — in consumption, trade
and investment and another $14.2 billion due to workers’ incapacity and
death.“Growth in Asia would virtually stop,” the report said. The economic
impact would likely force the world into a recession, it said.The scenario assumes about 20% of Asia’s population would fall ill, and
0.5% of them would die.