North American authorities react to Texas Ebola case
With news of the first North American case of the Ebola virus, the authorities are working hard to assure people that the risk of infections is low. The patient, who traveled to Dallas from Liberia did not display any active symptoms during the journey or for a few days after arriving in the US and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is not recommending that those who were on the same flight should be tested or monitored. However those who came into close contact with the patient once symptoms appeared will be monitored for 21 days. Although we have heard the news reports highlighting the rapid spread of the disease in Africa, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden says: “There’s all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States has a strong health care system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not threaten our communities.” More information is available at
www.cdc.gov/ebola
Health insurance comparison website launches
Insurance comparison websites have not taken off in the US as fast as they have in the UK and Europe but this week a new healthcare focused site has launched which hopes to eat in the health insurance market. Healthcare.com boasts more than 94,000 plans from almost 200 carriers and although it is currently aimed at personal lines the ‘Small Business’ button on the site says “Coming Soon”. The Miami-based company aims to become a go-to site for health insurance and the launch, backed by $2 million of investment, has been rolled out in time for the open enrolment period for the Affordable Healthcare Act which starts next month.
Do investors understand the risk of Alibaba stocks?
Not all of the businesses and individuals who scrambled to get hold of shares in the Chinese ecommerce company Alibaba will be completely sure of what they now own. Many considered the IPO to be a chance to buy into China’s equivalent of Amazon with a huge potential marketplace. It’s the business structure though that some experts say could be a risk for investors. Alibaba is a ‘variable interest entity’ or VIE, which is a Chinese peculiarity; something of a legal loophole to get round a ban on direct foreign investment in some business sectors. It allows Chinese firms to hold the licenses and permits needed to do business in the country, but also to raise money from abroad through subsidiaries which hold some claim to the main company’s profits. Crucially though, the shares that western investors bought, do not allow direct claim on profits or assets of the main company, only on the NYSE traded part of it.
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