Senator Frist says a pandemic could cost the U.S. economy upwards of a half-trillion $$$$. The White House on Saturday war-gamed a pandemic.
On a more practical level, Grattan Woodson, in The Bird Flu Preparedness Planner, explains that "preventing dehydration in flu victims will save more lives than all the other treatments combined." The magic is a solution of 4 cups of clean water mixed with 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.