China is struggling with a new virus that has already killed more than 20 people. It is a serious health issue. The World Health Organization has called it an emergency for China, though not for the world, not so far at least. Inevitably, it will have economic consequences. But how severe and how far will they spread? Economists are very wary about putting any figures on it at this early stage. But it is possible to identify what form the impact will take and to look at the economic damage done by previous similar episodes, notably the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome - better known as Sars - in 2002-3, ... (full story)