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The threat of a deadly Pandemic Influenza grows with each passing day as the H5N1 Virus continues to spread. The World Health Organization (WHO), The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America and other leading Health Authorities in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and around the world are urging Governments and nations to prepare for the likelihood of a Global Pandemic strain of Influenza. Experts from around the globe are in agreement that the outbreak is just a matter of time. The impact is predicted to be much more devastating than the tsunamis in Asia. The damage to national infrastructure, air, sea and land transport, shipping, industry, farming, health services and survivability will be catastrophic and immeasurable. Over 62,000,000 deaths are predicted to occur as a result of Pandemic Influenza. Business re-start cost has been estimated as $700M.
The present strain of influenza, H5N1 was first discovered in Hong Kong in 1997. Today, it is thought that up to 200 million birds, mainly in South East Asia could be infected with the deadly strain of the virus. Recently the strain has been discovered in the United Kingdom. There is much evidence of the spread of the virus throughout, in at least half of the European Union, including Greece, Germany, Italy and France.
The closure of borders, the suspension of international trade, the tourist industries are just a few of the activities on which curtailment, temporary or permanent cessation would occur, resulting in billions of dollars loss, which, for many countries would be difficult to recover during the long years of business re-commencement.
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