With Australia building on a dubious reputation as the most swine flu-infected country outside the Americas, the local insurance industry is continuing to watch developments closely.

Swiss Re has released the results of a mini-survey it conducted last month that found Australians under 40 are less concerned about and less responsive to swine flu issues than respondents in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Most Australians do not intend to review their current life and medical insurance cover.

Swiss Re MD Russell Higginbotham says the current pandemic “highlights the need to raise awareness of insurance and to make access to affordable protection more straightforward”.

Meanwhile, British doctors in private practice who have been considering strike action because of fears their medical indemnity insurance won’t cover them in an escalated flu pandemic have received reassurances from the British Medical Association.

And a local medical indemnity expert says Australian doctors face no liability risks under the prevailing negligence model.

Insurance House Director of Products and Markets Gary Gribbin says GPs should not worry about swine flu-related professional negligence or misadventure issues.

In the wake of the World Health Organisation declaring its highest-level alert on swine flu – a phase six pandemic – leading broker Aon Australia has called for vigilance.

The company says businesses must sort out how to protect employees, customers, supply chain partners, additional stakeholders and business assets if the flu spreads further. Steps to take now include making sure back-up suppliers are available, having a communications plan and allowing employees to work from home.