Influenza economics. Providers and suppliers who usually reap big profits during flu season might find that a pandemic could backfire on their bottom lines.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, right, spoke about avian influenza at the National Press Club in Washington last week. President Bush's plan involves asking Congress to invest billions of dollars in development, production and stockpiling of antiviral drugs and vaccines in case the flu strain becomes a pandemic. HHS hopes to stockpile enough of vaccine to inoculate 20 million Americans.