The View on Flu
Should life companies worry about bird flu? Swiss Re says yes, but Munich Re and a host of primary insurers claim the risks can be overstated. Richard Irving reports
It is 25 times more deadly than the killer "Spanish flu" virus of 1918; it could ultimately claim the lives of hundreds of millions of people; and there is no cure. Yet the insurance market scarcely batted an eyelid last month when avian influenza, or bird flu, finally surfaced in Britain.
So far, the virus, known as H5N1, has yet to pass from human to human. But the bug, which has proved fatal in 61 of the 118 cases in which it has jumped from bird to man, belongs to a family of influenzas that
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Economics
Webinar – Nowcasting the US economy
Join CME Group Chief Economist, Blu Putnam, as he shares insights using alternative data and nowcasting to monitor developments in the US economy.
Fed Funds Futures in a Post-ZIRP World
As the FOMC returns to more active management of its key target rate, Federal Funds futures have experienced dramatic growth.
Challenging economic pessimism: an optimistic note
A contrarian, upbeat view of the long-term economic outlook
Economists, like hedge fund traders, need open minds
Economists, risk managers and traders must learn the lessons of crisis, says Kaminski
Fed wrong not to start QE tapering, says UBS economist
The surprise decision by the Federal Reserve last month not to scale back its quantitative easing programme will create more volatility, says economist
IMF's Blanchard warns Europe could drag world economy down
IMF chief economist says ‘three-speed’ global economy could be dangerous
