date:Apr 17, 2013
ctivity, Fitch said. Respiratory pandemics such as the 2003 SARS epidemic and past outbreaks of animal disease or foodborne illnesses negatively affected the operating earnings and cash flow of U.S. protein processors and restaurant companies. Past outbreaks include the H1N1 swine flu virus in the U.S. during 2009 and the spread of the H5N1 bird flu through Asia during the 2003-2006 period.
As of April 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, had reported 13 deaths and 60 co