Risk managers, he said, need to make sure plans have been updated and key staff trained. Absences must be addressed, including arrangements for remote work and hygiene control. One point he stressed is that businesses should be running drills to make sure people know what to do if personnel absence due to the illness makes it difficult to keep their business running.

Gisele Norris, national director of Aon's Healthcare, Alternative Risk Practice, noted that in a worst-case scenario, a pandemic producing widespread absenteeism would not be covered under a company's business interruption insurance because it only covers stoppages due to property damage.

However, other insurance that could be affected might include workers' compensation, but that would depend on the type of business, so it is not applicable to everyone, she added.

Also, employers could see workers requesting time off under the Family Leave Act to deal with sick family members, she noted. Employee assistance programs could also see an increase in demand as workers tap these services to discuss symptoms, anxiety or depression concerning the threat.

The current flu strain is seen as worrisome because flu outbreaks normally are fatal only for the very young or old, while this strain thus far is killing people between the age of 15 and 44, which is unusual. Ms. Norris stressed that this is something to be watched, but cautioned against any overreaction.

“Don't panic, and be aware of what is happening,” she advised.

From a loss control and safety standpoint, Michael Liebowitz, director of risk management for New York University, said organizations of all types need to take some initiative at this point, contacting personnel who may be in Mexico and informing them of the outbreak.

Those in Mexico should be brought back and any plans to visit the country should be curtailed at this time, according to Mr. Liebowitz, a past president of the Risk and Insurance Management Society. (See the accompanying sidebar for loss control and safety tips from RIMS.)

Both he and William C. Kostner, risk manager for the city of Lincoln, Neb., said the most important steps people need to take are to recognize the symptoms and practice proper hygiene to help curb the flu's spread.

“These events are happening more often,” said Mr. Kostner, adding that serious flu outbreaks are occurring just as frequently as catastrophic weather incidents.

There is no test to check for the flu, according to Mr. Liebowitz, who said the best defense besides good hygiene and watching for early symptoms is to make educated decisions on what to do.

Additional information on the outbreak is available at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.