| There has been a lot of buzz about bird flu or the | | | | Financial markets hit by panic selling, gold prices soar |
| avian influenza and how it could become a global | | | | Run on banks as investors convert to cash |
| pandemic. What would a pandemic really mean? The | | | | Hospitals see surge in flu patients overwhelming |
| federal government just launched a 7 billion dollar | | | | staff and supplies, only those most likely to live given |
| program to help the prevention and out break of a | | | | access to limited available ventilators |
| bird flu pandemic. There have only been 83 deaths | | | | Healthcare workers and first responders out sick or |
| from avian flu worldwide since 2003. Health experts | | | | stay home to care for ill family members |
| have not yet seen evidence of human to human | | | | Public events are canceled and schools are closed |
| transmission. So what does it mean? And why is | | | | Government offices closed, non essential services |
| everyone so worried about a pandemic?This new | | | | shut down |
| strain of flu virus would be more resistant than other | | | | Social services reduced or eliminated. Services still |
| normal flu strains and if it turns into a form that | | | | functioning are overwhelmed |
| passes easily from person to person, we would have | | | | Public transportation halted |
| little immunity to it. Millions could become ill and millions | | | | Air traffic halted due to air traffic controllers, airport |
| would die. Once it starts to spread it could move | | | | staff and flight crews out sick |
| rapidly around the world infecting millions and | | | | Interstate commerce greatly reduced with truck |
| affecting the lives of everyone. The World Bank, | | | | drivers, warehouse and rail workers out sick |
| which has estimated that a bird flu pandemic lasting a | | | | Food deliveries, gas deliveries, other essential |
| year could, cost the global economy up to $800 | | | | supplies all reduced or eliminated |
| billion. The economic toll on the world economy will be | | | | Grocery stores close due to shipments being |
| catastrophic. What is the worst-case scenario and | | | | eliminated |
| how might it develop?Here is how a bird flu pandemic | | | | Food distribution chain from farm to stores breaks |
| might unfold:Outbreaks of avian flu in birds continue in | | | | down |
| several additional countries outside of Southeast Asia | | | | Travel restricted, quarantines mandatory, enforced |
| including Russia, Africa and the Middle East | | | | by National Guard |
| Human cases of bird flu increase | | | | Widespread looting and riots over food shortages |
| Health experts confirm first human-to-human | | | | and access to healthcare |
| transmissions | | | | Local, State police and National Guard overwhelmed |
| Flu screening is stepped up at airports around the | | | | Social structure breaks down |
| world for passengers coming from infected countries | | | | Domestic violence increases as people are forced to |
| Health care workers show signs of increased | | | | stay home |
| exposure | | | | Loss of workers affects all businesses across the |
| Air travel spreads virus to all corners of the globe | | | | economy, including finance, sanitation, utilities, internet, |
| within 3 months | | | | distribution, energy, retail, tourism and travel |
| First confirmed human transmission cases appear in | | | | Utility outages increase as coal shipments are |
| Europe Russia, and the United States | | | | reduced and minimum required staffs at power plants |
| Outbreaks continue, becoming more widespread | | | | and water plants are out sick |
| reaching epidemic status | | | | Funeral homes are overwhelmed as bodies stack up |
| Regional stockpiles of antivirals quickly dwindle, new | | | | 2nd wave of pandemic bird flu hits |
| high volume production and distribution is 6 months | | | | Global economy will take years to recover from |
| off | | | | catastrophic losses and loss of trained employees |
| International flights are reduced or eliminated to help | | | | who diedDoes the above scare you? Think it won't |
| contain spread of the flu | | | | happen? Well this is the exact scenario your local, |
| Billions are lost on international commerce, affecting | | | | state and federal governments are training and |
| millions of jobs around the world | | | | planning for. How would you survive? It has always |
| US imports from Asian factories halted as Asian | | | | been recommended to keep 3 days of supplies on |
| workers fall ill, US inventories drop | | | | hand to survive a natural disaster. We have seen |
| International trade devastated | | | | how the federal government handles natural |
| US economy feels effects of loss of productivity | | | | disasters. |
| due to millions of workers out sick | | | | |