Four in Ten Britons could be hit by swine flu
As the government's Cobra emergency committee gathers in London there are serious concerns that the ongoing outbreak of swine flu could impact upon four in ten Britons if it becomes a pandemic. The situation in the UK has worsened over the last few hours with possible new cases in Wiltshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Wales not to mention a flurry of other cases overseas.
However, before panic sweeps the UK it is worth remembering that so far there have been no fatalities outside of Mexico although that is not to say this will remain the case forever. There have been some concerns expressed in the UK with regards to the impact upon the population as a whole, the economy and various areas of business as well as a suggestion that current stocks of anti-viral drugs may not cover the whole population. We have seen a significant fall in holiday company shares, hotel company shares and airlines in particular with concerns that transport restrictions will be widened in the short to medium term.
Scare stories are running amok in the press, on the news and on the Internet but in business and communities around the UK a degree of calm is required.
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