Canadian Underwriter
News

Prepare for more severe version of H1N1: Marsh


May 20, 2009   by Canadian Underwriter


Print this page Share

Global insurance broker and risk advisor Marsh is warning businesses to be prepared for the possible outbreak of a second, more severe mutation of influenza A (H1N1) later this year.
Toby L. Merlin, M.D., deputy director of the influenza coordination unit at the Centers for Disease Control, participated in a Marsh Web cast related to the recent H1N1 viral outbreak. He said there could be a second wave of disease in late summer or early fall of 2009 that may be different from the current outbreak.
“It could possibly be more severe,” he cautioned. “This virus is quite capable of either mutating, or re-assorting with other circulating viruses to change the nature of the disease it causes.
“People can watch the course of the disease in the southern hemisphere, which might be predictive of disease we’re going to see here.”
In Canada, there are 496 confirmed cases of H1N1 and one death associated with the flu. In the United States, there are 5,710 confirmed cases of H1N1, resulting in eight deaths.
“The current outbreak of A/H1N1 has tested organizations more than they expected,” said Gary Lynch, a managing director of Marsh and global leader of the firm’s supply chain risk management practice. “And now, they should be seeking to capture the concerns in a dialogue, lessons learned, and lessons not learned, especially in speaking with all the stakeholders and their extended supply chain.”


Print this page Share

Have your say:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*