With the spread of swine flu hogging the headlines, airlines may
worry that they are in the firing line for claims arising out of
this potential pandemic. Drawing on our experience of other
worldwide health threats such as SARS and tuberculosis, we consider
the real extent of exposure.
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs
caused by a strain of influenza which can be transmitted from
person to person. Regular outbreaks among pigs are common, but
people do not normally get it. It is thought to spread from person
to person through "droplets" that are released through
the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets can
be breathed in by others and can also remain on hard surfaces like
counters and doorknobs for up to two hours, where they are picked
up on hands and spread when someone touches their eyes, mouth
and/or nose.
