We have seen the companies selling products purported to cure bird flu despite a virulent form of the virus not yet mutated to affect humans. Roche shares will certainly be doing well for Tamiflu sales even without any claims from the manufacturer the product can cure the expected bird flu pandemic.
Expect next cabs off the rank to be the antibacterial soap manufacturers with claims of bacteria free hands and houses. Consider this though the next wave of fear could come from antibacterial resistant bacteria created by the overuse of antibacterial agents.
Nothing new here, even Charles Darwin quoted..
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
Consider that with each new threat whether it be virus or bacteria will have adapted to the current environment in such a manner so as to bypass existing countermeasures.
This is only evolution in action.
Either way cashing in on the fear of viral or bacterial attack today will only delay the inevitable and probably cause the impact to be greater.
Ref Experts refute anti-bacterial soap claims
