# 1138
. . . And pretty soon you're talking real money.
With apologies to Everett Dirkson, inflation being what it is, we have to add a few zeros these days.
Today we have a new estimate of the costs of a pandemic, both in dollars, and in lives.
This from DowJones's Market Watch.
Bird flu pandemic could cost $4.4 trillion: survey
By Aude Lagorce
Last Update: 7:28 AM ET Sep 27, 2007
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- A bird flu pandemic could lead to global economic losses of up to $4.4 trillion and the death of more than 140 million people, according to a study by the Marsh and the Albright Group released at the 5th International Bird Flu summit on Thursday. The study also found that an epidemic would reach the U.S. within two weeks of the first outbreak and that 25% of the world's population would fall ill, with work absenteeism rising to at least 35%.
