Bird flu pandemic can hit oil industry strongly.
An American consulting company PIRA Energy Group forecasts reduction of demand for oil.
The reason is if the virus mutates to a form able to infect one man by another many people would refuse their tours being afraid to become infected with the dangerous disease. That means, passenger traffic will be reduced greatly and use of fuel, too.
US Department of Energy Information reported oil consumption in the world is 85 mln barrels a day.
The virus H5N1 killed more than 60 men. Scientists say if there is a world epidemic of bird flu 20% of population can be infected and 5 mln of people can die. All fatal cases happened in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
sections: Economics, World News |