The Bank of Montreal has calculated that a mild pandemic would cut annual economic growth by two percentage points, while a severe outbreak would cut growth by six percentage points.

But not all businesses will suffer from the pandemic.

Medical equipment maker Noveko International says it's received so many orders for its face masks that it's had to turn some down, while demand for its hand sanitizer has gone through the roof.

And Montreal-based AXA Assistance has launched a pandemic assistance hotline to help companies reduce the disruption in their day-to-day activities due to the flu.

Meanwhile, Glaxo Smith Kline's facility in Quebec City has already produced seven million doses of H1N1 vaccine and expects to produce millions more in the weeks ahead.