China will shut its borders if there is a single case of human-to-human transmission of bird flu in the country, its deputy health minister has said. As bird flu entered Britain yesterday with the discovery of the virus in a parrot in quarantine, Huang Jiefu said saving lives would be Beijing's main priority even if it meant a slowdown in the economy.
| And since he's a minister in a communist, murderous state, you can believe him when he talks about saving lives. |
His warning came as finance specialists predicted that a flu pandemic could devastate Asian economies. The Asian Development Bank said a mild outbreak would cost the region up to $110 billion (£62bn) in reduced consumption, investment and trade. A more severe outbreak would lead to global recession.
Yesterday the bank announced it would provide $58 million (£33m) in grants to help combat the disease before it spreads. 'Many economic activities would be brought to a halt, while the health systems of most countries would be overwhelmed,' a spokesperson said. |