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Bank chief warns of SARS fallout  April 8 2003  World Bank
president James Wolfensohn warned today that a potentially
lethal pneumonia virus poses a possible threat to the economy of
South-East Asia and South China.  "At the moment the impact I
think is modest but if it continued with much more significant
proportions it could have an impact," Wolfensohn told AFP in an
interview.  "If it continues there could be an impact. It is
obviously affecting tourism tremendously, disrupting travel for
people who want to make investments or to trade."  The major
impacts appeared to be in the South China region, Hong Kong and
Singapore.  Nearly 2,800 suspected cases of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been detected around the world,
with China (1,268 cases) and neighbouring Hong Kong (883) the
hardest hit. About 100 people have died of the virus.  The World
Bank chief's assessment was backed by Westpac Banking Corp which
said the outbreak would s