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 The
World Health Organization (WHO) is currently hosting an international
conference in Geneva to discuss the threat posed by avian influenza.
Experts at the event have warned that the risk of a global influenza
epidemic is increasing, stating that ‘the recent appearance
and widespread distribution of an avian influenza virus, Influenza
A/H5N1, has the potential to ignite the next pandemic.’
The scale of a future pandemic has also been highlighted, with
WHO predicting that ‘even in the best case scenarios of the
next pandemic, 2 to 7 million people would die and tens of millions
would require medical attention. If the next pandemic virus is a
very virulent strain, deaths could be dramatically higher.’
An influenza pandemic could affect between 20-50 percent of the
total world population.
Given the potential scale of the problems that would be caused
by a pandemic it is vital that business continuity managers consider
it as a scenario when developing business continuity plans.
Suitable mitigation and crisis management measures include:
1. Gain knowledge
Research the disease in as much depth as possible so that you fully
understand the implications for your organisation and how large
a risk the disease constitutes.
2. Monitor the current situation
The World Health Organization website
and most governments provide up-to-date information on disease outbreaks.
It is important to know when any of your business operations become
at risk from nearby outbreaks.
3. Liaise with your local health authorities
Your local health authority should have a pandemic contingency plan.
You may find it helpful to obtain a briefing on its contents. This
will help you ascertain what support your business can expect in
an outbreak and what policies the authority will operate to.
4. Contingency measures
Take measures to help reduce the risk of staff catching and spreading
the disease if infected:
* Where vaccines are available ensure that employees are vaccinated
at the earliest opportunity.
* Encourage employees to avoid travelling into regions and countries
where outbreaks have taken place. Follow governmental travel advice
and warnings. Have a clear business travel plan for evacuating staff
from diseased areas.
* If any disease cases are reported in your area encourage staff
to avoid crowds. If possible encourage and facilitate home-working.
Replace face-to-face business meetings, seminars and conferences
with web-based and tele-conferencing alternatives.
* You may feel that it is appropriate to provide staff with face-masks
and alcohol wipes to help avoid cross-contamination.
* Staff should be sent home at the first sign of any symptoms. They
should be told not to return to the workplace until it is clear
that they are not infected with the disease.
* Succession planning is an important consideration: realistically
in a pandemic key executives may die and it is vital to the smooth
running of the business and for staff and stakeholder confidence
that a succession quickly takes place.
* Crisis communications – during a pandemic it will be essential
to maintain communications with staff and stakeholders; a system
for rapidly communicating a consistent message needs to be in place.
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•Date:
14th Dec 2004 • Region: World •Type:
Article •Topic:
BC general
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