Swine flu 'threatens small businesses'

Date: 27th July 2009

The potential effects of swine flu on the small business sector are to be discussed at a live seminar on the web today.

Worker absenteeism is expected to rise as the pandemic affects more and more Britons, with a direct impact on the economy as a whole also expected.

Government forecasts suggest that 100,000 people could be catching the flu each day, when the virus reaches its peak.

This could in turn result in lost sales for vulnerable smaller firms and business start-ups.

Participants at the web summit, organised by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), include Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the GPs' committee at the British Medical Association.

David Frost, director general of the BCC said: "Both supply and demand could be impacted [by swine flu] and businesses need to be prepared.

"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."

Britain's economy is widely predicted to contract by over four per cent this year due to the credit crunch, with the downturn to end in 2010.

However, many of these forecasts were made before the extent of the swine flu pandemic had become clear.