Economic effects of Pandemic Flu outbreak

The Congressional Budget Office released a report this week on the economic effects of a pandemic flu outbreak. "A Potential Influenza Pandemic: Possible Macroeconomic Effects and Policy Issues" states that if there was a pandemic the effect would be similar in "depth and duration to that of an average postwar recession." The CBO provides reports at the request of congressional committees and subcommittees and occasionally congress members. They also analyze the costs of any bill before Congress and provide reports for the federal budget.