With the World Health Organization promoting swine flu to level five of its six-level pandemic alert and warnings in The Economist that there is little hope of having enough antiviral treatments for all who would need them if a pandemic struck, it might only be a matter of time before it hits the economy. And it's not just the pork and travel industry either.

In a sign of what could be ahead for many companies, Burger King now warns that swine flu could have an impact on its bottom line. Not to mentions sales of its bacon double cheese burger. Company CEO John Chidsey says the company is taking a more conservative approach to its fourth quarter earnings outlook because of the "ongoing market challenges and unknown potential effects of the swine flu situation."

Perhaps this could be the first of many more warnings as businesses dig in. It would not be surprising to see businesses lodge compensation claim style enquiries into health centres inadequately dealing with the Swine Flu pandemic.