On August 29, 2011, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) urged global leaders to consider heightened preparedness and surveillance as it appears that a mutant strain of H5N1 is spreading in Asia and beyond.

According to the FAO, while H5N1 was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at its peak in 2006, it remained endemic in six of them.

Although the recent outbreaks currently do not pose a threat to humans, extra vigilance is recommended in countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, and Indonesia. Migrations have facilitated the virus’ geographical expansion, with almost 800 cases of outbreaks recorded between 2010 and 2011, many in countries virus-free since 2006. 

Of particular concern is China, where a mutant strain of H5N1 reportedly immune to existing vaccines has been identified. In a recent interview with Risk & Insurance ,Gary Lynch, Marsh global leader of Risk Intelligence Strategies and Resiliency Solutions, noted that, on the positive side, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of companies doing business in China have a pandemic-preparedness plan in place. 

He also commented on changes in companies’ pandemic response when a strain begins to impact humans. “In the past, the first reaction would be to try and get those folks out of affected areas, but some of the thinking has changed,” Lynch explained. “More and more companies send employees to a ‘cleansed environment’ where they can continue working.”

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