Could swine flu knock the UK economy again?
While many in the UK continue to enjoy a heatwave there are real concerns about the latter end of 2009 and the potential impact that swine flu could have on the UK economy. Despite the fact that swine flu has been taken off the headlines in the UK we are seeing more and more cases reported and confirmed on a daily basis and indeed the UK government has moved from a phase of containment to treatment. So could swine flu have an impact on the UK economy?
Even though there are many rumours, untruths and wild accusations doing the rounds there is no doubt we could see tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of daily sufferers reported in the latter part of 2009. Indeed, one of the advisers to the UK government suggested that eventually we could see around 100,000 new cases of swine flu announced every day in August , before the government is able to immunise the vast majority of the population.
When you consider that the so far swine flu sufferers have been forced to remain indoors while the virus is active, we could potentially lose tens of millions of hours of working time over the next three months. Whether this is something of a nightmare scenario, which may ultimately not materialise, there are growing concerns that the UK economy and the expected recovery could be impacted by the threat of swine flu.
Share this..
Related stories
Does the Cadbury's offer confirm that the recession is over?
Today's £10 billion offer for Cadbury's by Kraft Foods Inc took the markets by surprise with many now under the impression this may well mark the end of the recession. This is by far and away the largest takeover offer for many months and the fact that Kraft Foods believes it can raise the funds required to take over Cadbury is also a very positive sign for investors.
However, if y...
CBI in renewed call for UK interest rate cuts
In the aftermath of the fall of the famous Lehman Brothers and the immediate affect which it has had on the money markets - not unlike the impact the market felt as the credit crunch began - the CBI has called on the Bank of England to throw caution to the wind and reduce UK interest rates. The confederation believes that unless action is taken before the end of 2008 the UK will encounter a prolo...
Read MoreLloyds bank in line for £2.5 billion hit
Rumours in the city today suggest that Lloyds bank is in line for £2.5 billion hit in order to allow the company to withdraw from the UK government's toxic asset insurance scheme. This is a scheme which was originally brought together to allow troubled UK banks to insure their potentially toxic assets and effectively strengthen balance sheets in the short to medium term. However, a recovery in th...
Read MoreUnite union admits that British Airways action is probably over the top
In a surprise development regarding the planned 12 day Christmas strike by British Airways cabin staff, Derek Simpson, the boss of the Unite union, has admitted that the action is "probably over the top". After Gordon Brown entered the fray and pleaded with both parties to negotiate an agreement, the revelation that even some within the union believed the 12 day action is too much does in many way...
Read MoreMillions of Lloyds Customers to be transferred to ‘TSB’ Bank
Millions of customers of high street Bank, Lloyds TSB, will soon receive a notice detailing a change in their banking details, as the license behind their account is transferred to Lloyds TSB Scotland. This is the first step in a process that will eventually see these customers switched to TSB Bank, a new bank formed in a deal between Lloyds and the Co-operative Bank. This deal is near conclus...
Read More