Preparing for a possible influenza pandemic
Issue #4
April 22, 2007
In recent months, avian flu has been in the news almost daily. Avian flu, caused by the H5N1 virus, has experts concerned because the virus has completed two of the three steps needed for a pandemic: It has spread from infecting wild birds to other species, including poultry raised for food and humans, and it is a deadly strain to which humans lack immunity. The missing step is for the virus to obtain the ability to pass from person to person as easily as normal influenza, such as through coughing and sneezing, for a pandemic to begin.
Why so much concern now? Avian flu has been detected in 13 Asian countries, and most recently in Turkey and Romania. Since 1997, about 120 human cases have been confirmed in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. More than half of these people have died, probably due to contact with infected poultry. Since mid-2003, H5N1 has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in migrating birds and poultry on record. With each new outbreak, the risk of a pandemic strain developing increases. And that’s why preparing for an influenza pandemic is in the spotlight now.
The impact of a pandemic: How serious might it be?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), past influenza pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption and economic loss. Today, our world is vastly more populated and worldwide travel is commonplace, so the impact of a pandemic could be substantial.
Predicting the size of the threat is difficult. According to U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, without the widespread availability of an avian flu vaccination, it is estimated that the disease could potentially spread to kill up to 1.7 million people in the U.S., and as many as 7.4 million people worldwide. And estimates of the economic impact range between $71.3 and $166.5 billion. But experts advise these are only estimates—much depends on how severe the virus would be, how rapidly it would spread, and the effectiveness of pandemic prevention and response efforts worldwide.
What can businesses do to prepare for a disaster?
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), companies often get cracking on a business recovery plan after a disaster strikes—when it’s too late. Secretary Leavitt stresses that while the threat of a pandemic looms, planning shouldn’t be specific to H5N1, but rather on the need for business contingency planning in general. Every area in the country is subject to some kind of natural disaster, such as a flood, hurricane or earthquake. Even man-made disasters, such as an oil spill, bio-terrorism or fire, can be devastating. Preparation today helps you plan for your business’s survival tomorrow.
- Consider expanding your online business opportunities.
- Promote awareness of the problems associated with pandemic flu: Alert employees about what steps you’re taking and what they can do to limit the pandemic's impact.
- Review sick-leave and pay policies to ensure they don’t discourage workers from staying home when they're ill.
- Make backup plans if you need to pull people out of countries where the epidemic strikes.
- Develop a travel policy that restricts travel to areas where the virus is active.
- Stock up on masks and sanitizers, and consider staggering work hours to limit the size of gatherings.
What can businesses do to prepare for an influenza pandemic?
The first step is to create or update a business continuity plan. It must address a range of issues that includes planning for disasters, such as an influenza pandemic, and be integrated into business processes.
When planning specifically for a pandemic, your business needs are unique, so you’ll need to conduct a risk-management assessment on your own operations to ensure continued operation. Here is a sampling of things to review and consider:
- To minimize business disruptions, review how you work with employees, customers, consumers, contractors, media, etc.
- Do you have the infrastructure you need to run your operations with up to 40 percent of your staff out ill or caring for sick family members?
- Consider building up inventories in case foreign or domestic suppliers and transport services are interrupted.
- Consider your supply chains. Source backups for suppliers and/or essential work functions.
- Keeping people apart to limit the disease’s spread will be crucial. Consider supplying employees the equipment and support they need to telecommute if their jobs allow.
- Develop strategies for communicating with employees, customers, consumers and the media.
- Consider expanding your online business opportunities.
- Promote awareness of the problems associated with pandemic flu: Alert employees about what steps you’re taking and what they can do to limit the pandemic's impact.
- Review sick-leave and pay policies to ensure they don’t discourage workers from staying home when they're ill.
- Make backup plans if you need to pull people out of countries where the epidemic strikes.
- Develop a travel policy that restricts travel to areas where the virus is active.
- Stock up on masks and sanitizers, and consider staggering work hours to limit the size of gatherings.
How do you plan for the unimaginable?
Using government data based on the previous three pandemics, up to 30% of the population was affected, and roughly 10% to 20% of workers were affected for periods that ranged from two to four weeks. These statistics may be useful benchmarks to determine the level of disruption that could potentially impact your operations. Also anticipate and prepare for major breakdowns or disruptions in services, such sanitation, water, power and transportation, and to hospitals and healthcare systems.
How do I stay informed about the potential for an influenza pandemic?
News and information about a pandemic is changing frequently. The CDC and WHO have large surveillance programs to monitor and detect influenza activity around the world. Businesses are encouraged to stay informed by visiting www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic for up-to-the-minute information.
Got Questions?
Ed,
Regarding OSHA’s standard for obtaining Material Safety Data Sheets; does this apply to chemical that my employees purchase at retail locations?
Kay
Kay,
Material Safety Data Sheets must be obtained for all hazardous chemicals, including those purchased at retail locations. Consumer products when used in the workplace in a duration and frequency that is not greater than that experienced by a regular consumer are exempt from this requirement.
Ed
Free for the asking . . .
Are you having difficulty getting MSDS information from your chemical supply source? Send me an email at ed@kempkey.com and I will send you a MSDS vendor request letter that reiterates their responsibility for providing this information to you.