Marsh, the world's leading insurance broker and risk advisor, today announced it has published a 34-page report for businesses and government entities on H1N1 influenza, pandemic preparedness and response.

Marsh's report, H1N1 Influenza: Preparing for and Responding to a Pandemic, describes the current H1N1 outbreak and examines the potential global threat that pandemics pose.  Drawing from best practices developed in past events involving communicable disease, Marsh discusses steps that businesses, government entities, and other organizations should consider to prepare for and respond to pandemics.  The report also examines potential implications for certain commercial insurance coverages, including general liability, workers' compensation, pollution, and property.

"While many firms have procedures or crisis management plans to address emergencies that can affect business continuity, they may not adequately cover a situation involving communicable diseases that can affect employees and the general population on a wide scale," said Gary Lynch, a managing director of Marsh and global leader of the firm's Supply Chain Risk Management Practice.  "Much can be learned from how the current strain of H1N1 virus is being handled, in terms of coordinated international responses, crisis communications, and the need to prioritize what needs to be done to keep going."

Marsh's report also provides links to key resources on the current H1N1 outbreak and pandemics in general, including government and international agency Web sites, as well as a brief history of flu pandemics.

The Marsh report is available free of charge.

In addition to the report, Marsh has created a number of resources for businesses related to the pandemic, including:

• Marsh Pandemic Preparedness Center
• Marsh Webcast, "H1N1 Flu and Pandemic Preparedness"  The Webcast and its replay are free of charge.
• Marsh H1N1 influenza and pandemic e-mail alerts, available free to those who register.