Swine flu 'could damage economic recovery'

The swine flu pandemic is to be discussed by business leaders and doctors in a live web seminar today.

Organised by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), heavy hitters including Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the GPs’ committee at the British Medical Association, are to participate in the summit.

The government recently said that 100,000 people a day could become infected by the virus by next month, putting a potential strain on the NHS and increasing absenteeism at work.

Economists have also expressed the fear that this could hit UK economic output as a whole - potentially deepening and lengthening the present recession.

The economy shrank by 2.4 per cent over the first quarter of 2009 and by a further 0.8 per cent in April-June, with the credit crunch leading to rising unemployment and consumer debt defaults.

Some analysts have suggested that Britain’s economy could contract by over four per cent this year - even before the potential damage caused by swine flu is factored in.

David Frost, director general of the BCC said: ’The BCC will continue to work with business and the government to ensure we plan for what could become a very difficult period of disruption. This online seminar is the right way to communicate the key messages to the business community.’

He added: ’The internet and remote working will allow many firms to continue operating normally should their workplace be affected by swine flu.’

The summit will be viewable at the BCC’s website.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19282659-ADNFCR