Major banks are preparing contingency plans for protecting their staff and maintaining their commerce if the virus sets off a worldwide pandemic. The government of Vietnam has reported its forty second avian flu death. The Chinese government has taken over all the supplies of Tamiflu whereas Canada is warning duck hunters to be careful.

The largest bank in the world, Citigroup, has set up an avian flu task force. Swiss bank said that it is working out a strategy for business continuity. According to the World Bank, the expenses incurred to tackle a human influenza pandemic could touch eight hundred billion dollars. Already, sixty-four people have been killed by the flu in Asia. Although it is not transmitted among humans currently, it could mutate at any time.

In England, the FSA said that it was analyzing the effects of avian flu on the financial sector, adding that it is urging banks and insurers to update their strategy for business continuity. The agency also said that the banks might let their employees work from home and that they may also close some selected branches.

According to Roche, they have stopped selling Tamiflu to individual companies in Vietnam and were giving supplies to the Ministry of Health since the officials were ordered to be prepared to cure the possible human cases of bird flu. No cases of human deaths by the flu have been confirmed in China. However, the government is inspecting the death of a girl and the ailments of two other people.

In Canada, a well-known veterinarian is asking duck hunters to be alert about the flu during hunting season. He says that there is no evidence to indicate the arrival of the flu in Canada. However, hunters could become carriers of the virus. He said that they should change their shoes and clothes after handling ducks and they have to wash their hands thoroughly. He added that they should cook the duck meat thoroughly because cooking kills the virus.