Countries around the world are making a major effort to stop the spread of the Avian Flu virus, and governments are learning that such an effort may cost a record sum.

A new study says that in a "worst case" scenario, where the bird flu mutates into a strain which can transmit itself from person-to-person, an estimated 142 million people could die.

The loses from such a disaster would total $4.4 trillion USD; or Japan's annual economic output.

The study comes from the Lowy Institute think tank, an Australian firm, and has helped spur the U.S., E.U., and Asian countries to step-up their fight against the virus.