Report says flu pandemic could lead to U.S. recession

A severe flu pandemic would probably throw the U.S. economy into recession since people who are ill -- as well as those who are not infected and want to avoid the flu -- would stay home from work, school and public places such as restaurants, a congressional study says.

The nation's gross domestic product would drop an estimated 5 percent during the year of an outbreak, with transportation, retailing, tourism and entertainment taking the hardest hits, the Congressional Budget Office said.

.......

It estimates the chances of such a severe flu are less than one-third of 1 percent annually, though public health officials are increasingly concerned that the bird flu virus could mutate and jump from person to person, something that has not yet occurred.

"A $675 billion hit to the economy is without question a grim prognosis," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who requested the study. "The good news is that our hands are not tied."


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05343/619640.stm

That's the problem with having an economy built on a house of cards.

USA economy continues to deteriorate, and the aftermath of the hurricanes has not been felt in full yet. I think it will take only 1 more thing, and not even a birdflu pandemic, but just general flu, to tip us over.

Boogety boogety boogety! The boogie man is going to get you! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE SKY IS FALLING!

by wiping out part of the workforce and forcing them to pay living wages to the survivors.

would be panic in the streets.

the cronie flu vaccine, perhaps the threat of financial burdens will.

Gotta keep those bases covered!

how much pumping of paranoia will there be of a bird flu pandemic in Feb/March and who can we blame a bad economy on? the pandemic? not on the incomepetant management by the GOP??? even money they want to scapegoat their shitty policies by mis-managing the pandemic but making it look like they aren't mis-managing it just enough to not get blamed.

which he would gleefully shout from the rooftops.

You never know when you are going to need a good line of bullshit.

Gosh, how much more scared can we get?

Pandemic?

*shivers*

Recession caused by pandemic?

*shivers and crouches in a corner*