Metabiota's research shows that outbreaks like acute flaccid myelitis (a "polio-like" illness), Zika, Avian influenza and even seasonal influenza are not one-off scenarios but, in fact, illustrate distinct patterns. (Photo: Shutterstock)
In 2018, there were close to 100 documented cases of disease outbreaks around the world, according to the World Health Organization. An epidemic outbreak puts countless lives at risk, but it's also a direct threat to many companies.
Such outbreaks often shake the stability of a country's economy. In Latin American and the Caribbean, for example, the Zika virus alone may end up costing up to $18 billion. The South Korean MERS outbreak in 2015 caused a 40% drop in tourism, costing the country an estimated loss of $900 million in revenue.
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Denny Jacob
Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].
