A pandemic, which could be caused by a mutated bird-flu virus, could hit up to 70 million people worldwide and cost US$3 trillion (S$4.45 trillion), DPM Wong said in his keynote address at a conference on pandemic preparedness, organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

To aid private-sector emergency planners in their preparations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has published a book, released yesterday, on influenza, government measures such as border closures, and business measures such as occupational health precautions.

Emergency planners can download the book, 'Preparing for a Human Influenza Pandemic in Singapore', from the Ministry of Home Affairs website or the Ministry of Health website.