Flu pandemic ‘could trigger global economic disaster’

A NEW influenza pandemic could affect 20% of the world’s population and trigger a global economic disaster, experts warned yesterday.

Scientists called on world leaders to start planning for an event that could lead to millions of deaths, panic and the collapse of international trade. Only a global response would stand a chance of averting the catastrophe, said the experts.

Fears of a pandemic have arisen because of outbreaks of the H5N1 bird flu strain in south-east Asia, which has caused 51 confirmed human deaths. The fatality rate of humans infected by the virus is as high as 60%.