Bird Flu pandemic could cause economic crisis

The bird flu pandemic that appears to be creeping westward could be catastrophic for Canada’s manufacturing sector as it has the potential to instigate an economic crisis, according to the Conference Board of Canada.In its report “Performance and Potential 2005-06: The World and Canada: Trends Reshaping Our Future,” the Conference Board warns that Canada’s efforts to protect itself from the strain will be futile. However in an attempt to protect itself from the economic repercussions of the H5N 1 strain, chicken farmers in Nova Scotia have developed an emergency response plan. This plan integrates an insurance program to ensure that the poultry industry does not again see losses similar to the estimated $400 million dollars lost in 2004 when BC suffered an outbreak of H7N3 flu, which forced the elimination of 17 million birds.The virus, is currently widespread in Asia with 60 people dying in the past two years, and has recently been identified in Romania, Turkey and Greece.In a worst-case scenario, if the H5N 1 avian influenza virus reaches Canada up to 1.6 million Canadians could die.