It is estimated that a modest pandemic lasting over one year might cause a loss as high as 3 per cent of Asian GDP and 0.5 per cent of world GDP. This is presently equivalent to about $ 150200 billion in GDP (WHO, 2006). In addition to high morbidity and mortality, the pandemic may cause massive social, political and economic disruption.
According to an estimate, the cost to the poultry industry has already exceeded $ 10 billion across Southeast Asia (United Nations, 2006). Financial costs of a human pandemic are impossible to predict.