Norovirus – Insurance

Environmental Risks In INSURANCE

 

Norovirus

What You Need to Know

Norovirus is a single stranded RNA virus belonging to the Caliciviridae family and is often responsible for outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in both healthcare and community settings

Norovirus infections affect all age groups but can be most severe in the elderly and immunocompromised

Immunity after infection is limited in time to several weeks

Exposure typically results from fecal contamination exposure found on environmental surfaces, by ingestion of contaminated food/water, or by exposure to aerosols of norovirus

Shedding of norovirus may continue to occur up to several weeks (especially in infants) after symptoms have resolved

What You Need to Do

Avoid exposure if possible and recommend that any individuals displaying symptoms stay home or be segregated/isolated from the general public

Promote hand hygiene using soap and water or ethanol based hand sanitizers

Consider suspending group activities especially those involving food such as buffets

Strict hand hygiene protocol must be enforced for food handlers and any handlers displaying symptoms must remain off work for at least 48 hours after symptom resolution

Increase cleaning and disinfection frequency especially of all high touch areas

Myths and Misconceptions

According to the CDC, norovirus may be responsible for the vast majority of gastroenteritis cases in the USA each year-TRUE

A vaccine for norovirus prevention was recently developed and is currently being tested-FALSE

Numerous outbreaks of norovirus have been traced to food handling and fecal-hand contamination-TRUE

In a recent study published in AJIC (American Journal of Infection Control) norovirus was identified as the pathogen most often responsible for shutdown/closure of a hospital unit/department-TRUE

Expert Services:
Insurance


Claims: Prevention and Response

  • Site Investigations/Inspections
  • Loss Mitigation Protocol Development
  • Creative Scope of Work Development
  • Project Oversight
  • Environmental Sampling
  • Cause and Origin Investigation
  • Emergency Response
  • Client Interface
  • Communication/Alert Development
  • Liability Exposure Minimization
  • Expert Consultation

Underwriting: New Product Development and Risk Assessment

  • New and Emerging Risk Education-Focus on New Areas of Coverage Opportunity
  • New and Emerging Product/Technology Applicability to Underwriting Coverage
  • Recommendations for Coverage Expansion Based on Risk Minimization Strategies
  • Policy Language Review/Development Based on Industry Specific Issues

Due Diligence: Investigation, Auditing, Verification and Risk Assessment

  • Project Oversight Ensuring Compliance with Policy Coverage
  • Immediate Communication re Project Issues Impacting Policies
  • Detailed Reports of Project Findings/Oversight with Recommendations
  • Cost Estimate Development Based on Construction/Remediation Options
  • Phone Surveys/Desktop Reviews Focusing on Issues of Potential Concern

Remediation Cost Auditing and Risk Quantification

  • Review/Audit of Contractor Invoices
  • Scope of Work Performed Analysis (Best Practices, Regulatory Compliance)

Expert Testimony

  • Environmental Risk
  • Healthcare Risk

Education and Training: Claims and Underwriting

  • Seminars/Webinars on Environmental/Healthcare Issues Focusing on Claims/Underwriting Risk
  • Seminars/Webinars on Emerging Issues and Policy Impact as well as Coverage Expansion Opportunities
  • White Paper Development

Insurance Toolkits: Claims and Underwriting

  • Development of Underwriting Applications for Healthcare/Environmental Risk
  • Development of Value Added Risk Management Checklists/Protocols for Insureds
  • Operations and Maintenance Programs for Water Intrusion Risk Management, Asbestos, Lead Based Paint
  • Hazard Assessment Critical Control Point Programs (HACCP)

Insurance Risk Alert Service

  • Development of Insured Alert Communications re Emergency Healthcare/Environmental Risk
  • Development of Employee Alert Communications re Emergency Healthcare/Environmental Risk