Avian influenza continues to get world attention. The World Bank put a cost on a potential outbreak of the
human-transmitted form of the disease, if it were to develop at US$2 trillion.
According to a Reuters report, the World Bank says the economic threat remains
"real and substantial," but that popular media are treating fears of an avian
flu outbreak as they did the Y2K
issue six years ago.
Earlier estimates last year pegging the cost at US$800 billion were a rough
guess, but that more financial modeling has revealed a sharper threat should the
virus mutate to easily pass among people. Officials say it is important to
create strong programs to stop the flu and strengthen world health and
veterinary services.
Countries and world organizations continue to commit resources to stopping
the disease and researching ways to combat it should the flu start spreading
from human to human.
