Pandemic planning resources: UK

An update page to help organisations with business continuity planning for pandemics and epidemics

LATEST NEWS

Government consults on UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011
The UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy updates the 2007 National Framework to encompass the lessons learnt from the recent H1N1 pandemic.
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•Date: 23rd March 2011 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Swine flu returns: in the media!
David Hutcheson says that business continuity managers should beware recent hype but should monitor the situation.
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•Date: 22nd Dec 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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As the WHO declares that the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic has ended, worries grow about a new microbiological threat: NDM-1
As one crisis passes, attention now focuses on NDM-1, a new multidrug-resistance mechanism which has the potential to develop into a major global health problem.
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•Date: 17th August 2010 • Region: Various •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Is pandemic planning now a laughing stock? Full results of the recent Continuity Central survey
Includes a useful overview of the current state of pandemic planning.
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•Date: 30th July 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO maintains pandemic status for H1N1 influenza
Trends update published.
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•Date: 23rd July 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning: a business continuity success story
Lyndon Bird comments.
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•Date: 7th July 2010 • Region: Various •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Two reports into UK pandemic response published
Official reviews seek to capture lessons learned to help improve response to future pandemics.
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•Date: 2nd July 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly criticises WHO and governmental pandemic handling
Plummeting confidence in official advice could prove ‘disastrous’ in the case of a severe future pandemic.
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•Date: 25th June 2010 • Region: UK/Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO assesses H1N1 pandemic situation
While pandemic activity is continuing, the period of most intense pandemic activity appears likely to have passed; however it is critical that vigilance is maintained.
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•Date: 8th June 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to adopt pandemic report
Report contains a critical analysis of the handling of the H1N1 pandemic.
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•Date: 4th June 2010 • Region: UK/Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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External review of WHO pandemic response begins
An in-depth review by external experts to assess the global response to the H1N1 pandemic and identify lessons for the future is underway.
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•Date: 13th April 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government pandemic vaccine deal switches H1N1 orders for H5N1
Precautionary measure against a ‘bird flu’ related pandemic.
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•Date: 7th April 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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UK government announces ‘a strategic and independent review of the UK response to swine flu’
Dame Deirdre Hine, a former Welsh Chief Medical Officer, will chair the independent review.
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•Date: 26th March 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assesses 2010 pandemic risk
No H1N1 pandemic waves are anticipated in Europe this year.
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•Date: 10th March 2010 • Region: Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO Emergency Committee meeting reviews H1N1 pandemic status
Concludes that it is too early to step down pandemic status.
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•Date: 25th Feb 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government winds down pandemic ‘flu response but warns against complacency
'There is still considerable uncertainty about how the virus will behave over the coming months and years.'
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•Date: 2nd Feb 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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WHO defends pandemic management
Tells the Council of Europe there were ‘good reasons for the sense of priority and urgency’.
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•Date: 28th Jan 2010 • Region:World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government steps down pandemic briefings
For the past few months the UK government has been running weekly pandemic press briefings. These have now been stopped due to ‘lack of sufficient new content’. They will be replaced with a fortnightly information bulletin.
•Date: 14th Jan 2010 • Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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New initiative from UK government aims to ‘prevent next global pandemic’
Scientific gathering will identify hotspots where the next global pandemic is most likely to come from and discuss how best to prevent it emerging or spreading.
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•Date: 11th Dec 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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RMS performs analysis for catastrophe bond covering H1N1 flu pandemic
First excess mortality catastrophe bond structured using probabilistic catastrophe model.
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•Date: 25th Nov 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Interim planning considerations for mass gatherings in the context of pandemic (H1N1)2009 influenza’
A new guidance document has been published by WHO.
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•Date: 17th Nov 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning: why working from home may not be an effective solution
A checklist of items that should be considered before giving the green-light to a work from home strategy.
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•Date: 12th November 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Aon launches insurance cover for pandemic building closure
Companies can now insure themselves for costs incurred if their building or the vicinity is officially closed due to a pandemic.
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•Date: 29th Oct 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Swine Flu: Guidance for planners
Peak absence rate expectation reduced from 12 percent to 5 percent according to new UK DH document.
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•Date: 27th Oct 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK starts pandemic vaccination programme
NHS Hospitals will begin vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and their patients who fall into at risk categories against swine flu from today (Wednesday 21st October). The vaccination programme will be rolled out over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday 26th October. Around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients. Protecting these people will help the NHS workforce to remain resilient and able to treat sick patients.
•Date: 21st Oct 2009• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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EU health ministers meet to discuss pandemic planning
On 12th October the EU’s health ministers met in Luxembourg for an extra Council meeting to discuss H1N1.
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•Date: 13th Oct 2009• Region: Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK police discuss pandemic planning
Police North West Region Business Continuity Managers Group meeting roundup.
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•Date: 29th Sept 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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WHO Director-General re-states pandemic flu advice
Following the fifth meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee.
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•Date: 25th Sept 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Tripartite authorities issue pandemic flu update
A cross-market swine flu group has been formed to provide a forum for representative business continuity practitioners from across the UK financial sector.
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•Date: 18th Sept 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Joint Ministerial Committee commits to continued joint working on pandemic issues
The UK’s Joint Ministerial Committee met in a Plenary session in London this week. The meeting was chaired by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, on behalf of the Prime Minister. The participants were the First Minister of Scotland, the Scottish Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution; the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for Wales; the First Minister and deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ministers discussed issues of common interest, amongst which was pandemic flu. The Ministers committed to continue to work together in decision-making regarding pandemic ‘flu contingency planning.
•Date: 18th Sept 2009• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Exercise Prometheus
The UK Department of Health has developed ‘Exercise Prometheus’ for the social care sector to assess and develop its resilience planning in readiness for a second wave of the pandemic swine flu. Designed as an 'off the shelf' package primarily for use by local authorities in partnership with their local providers of social care, the exercise has been developed from experience gained in previous pandemic influenza exercises. More details.
•Date: 16th Sept 2009• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning and your supply chain
Denis Goulet provides a checklist.
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•Date: 11th Sept 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government changes pandemic planning assumptions
Worst case scenario will be not as bad as first thought.
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•Date: 7th Sept 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Preparing for the second wave: lessons from current outbreaks
WHO Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note.
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•Date: 2nd Sept 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Evershed research provides a snapshot of pandemic planning in UK businesses
Research from international law firm Eversheds has highlighted the impact of the flu pandemic on UK businesses and the scale of contingencies in place for an Autumn escalation.
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•Date: 25th August 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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UK government announces fast tracked pandemic flu research
The work will be led by research centres in Leicester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Manchester and London.
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•Date: 25th August 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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EU Health Security Committee and the Early Warning and Response authorities agree pandemic policies
Unanimously adopts statements on school closures and travel advice.
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•Date: 14th August 2009• Region: Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic resources
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UK pandemic vaccination plans outlined
A mass vaccination against H1N1 pandemic flu will start in the Autumn in the UK. More than 11 million people in England will be targeted in the first priority groups. These will include pregnant women, frontline health and social care workers, and everyone in at-risk groups aged over six months. More details.
•Date: 14th August 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic plan testing – moving from art to science
Steve Dance reviews the Flu Pandemic Game which was recently made freely available by the UK Department of Health for plan testing and rehearsal.
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•Date: 13th August 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic flu having little impact on UK business
According to a survey of Institute of Directors members.
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•Date: 11th August 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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999 Team offers free pandemic planning training modules
999 Team, the UK-based provider of business continuity consultancy and training, has opened up its online pandemic planning training modules.
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•Date: 31st July 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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BCI publishes pandemic planning resource
The Business Continuity Institute has published a 16 page report on current thinking about pandemic planning.
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•Date: 30th July 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Is your technology pandemic-ready?
This article discusses the human side of technology and the potential challenges that may arise during a pandemic and the absence of ICT staff and key knowledge holders.
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•Date: 28th July 2009• Region:UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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WHO publishes new Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note
The number of human cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is still increasing substantially in many countries, even in countries that have already been affected for some time. Many countries with widespread community transmission have moved to testing only samples of ill persons and have shifted surveillance efforts to monitoring and reporting of trends. It remains a top priority to determine which groups of people are at highest risk of serious disease so steps to best to protect them can be taken. Read the note.
•Date: 28th July 2009• Region: World •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO publishes pandemic briefing
The 2009 influenza pandemic has spread internationally with unprecedented speed. In past pandemics, influenza viruses have needed more than six months to spread as widely as the new H1N1 virus has spread in less than six weeks.
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•Date: 17th July 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO publishes recommendations on A(H1N1) vaccines
Health care and critical infrastructure sectors should be two of the priorities for first vaccinations.
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•Date: 14th July 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK Business Advisory Network for Flu update
The Business Continuity Institute attended a recent session of the above group, organized by the Cabinet Office to update representative organizations on the government’s pandemic response and planning. Read the notes of the meeting (PDF).
•Date: 14th July 2009• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government plans emergency change to self-certification sicknote scheme
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) believes employers have nothing to fear from ‘emergency plans’ currently being considered by the UK Department for Work and Pensions to change the self-certification ‘sicknote’ rules from seven to 14 days. The regulations would have a sunset clause and would only remain law for six months unless it was agreed that they needed to be extended. Ben Willlmott, CIPD Senior Public Policy Adviser, commented: “The proposal to change the self-certification rules in the event of a serious flu pandemic is a pragmatic and temporary measure to reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and help prevent the spread of infection. Employers that manage absence and performance effectively and consistently have nothing to fear. The vast majority of absence is genuine and only a very small proportion of employees will seek to use this change in the self-certification rules to ‘pull a sickie’
•Date: 14th July 2009• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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BCP4me software gets pandemic flu planning extension
Now enables users to build a risk register for pandemic flu and then an action plan to handle the implications of working with significant loss of staff.
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•Date: 9th July 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: BC software
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H1N1 Tamiflu resistance concerns examined
The WHO has announced that it is examining cases of H1N1 Tamiflu resistance which have become evident.
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•Date: 9th July 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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US Environmental Protection Agency highlights the role of HVAC systems in pandemic flu transmission
In a presentation given in June 2009 the US Environmental Protection Agency has discussed pandemic flu infection mechanisms and the role that building HVAC systems can play in this.
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•Date: 30th June 2009• Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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The Flu Pandemic Game: a business continuity training resource
The UK Department of Health has made the above resource freely available.
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•Date: 24th June 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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No time for complacency in pandemic planning: Aon
Influenza viruses are notoriously unpredictable and the H1N1 may mutate to become more severe at any time.
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•Date: 16th June 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic phase six: what do business continuity managers do next?
Many pandemic plans have build in escalation steps which are meant to kick in when a phase six pandemic alert is reached, however given the relatively low virulence of the virus and the current status of infection levels should BC managers reconsider their plans? Continuity Central asked various business continuity experts to give their views...
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•Date:12th June 2009• Region:UK/US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning actions surveyed
The results of a survey into business response to the Influenza A H1N1 outbreak.
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•Date:27th May 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic: don’t be complacent
The H1N1 virus ‘may have given us a grace period’, but ’no one can say whether this is just the calm before the storm,’: WHO Director-General.
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•Date: 19th May 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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ISO report highlights best practices in the use of fever screening equipment as a tool in pandemic preparedness
ISO/TR 13154:2009 is available from ISO national member institutes.
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•Date: 19th May 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning actions surveyed
AIRMIC has published the results of a survey of risk managers which looks at the measures being taken in the current situation of high pandemic risk.
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•Date: 14th May 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Pandemic planning webinars and podcasts
Various companies and organizations have set up pandemic planning webinars and made podcasts available. This page provides a list of these.
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•Date: 8th May 2009• Region: World •Type: Events •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Business continuity providers’ statements on pandemic response
SunGard and ICM have both issued statements covering their policies for continued service during a pandemic.
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•Date: 6th May 2009• Region: UK/US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Swine influenza is now ‘Influenza A(H1N1)’
The World Health Organization has decided to use Influenza A(H1N1) rather than ‘swine influenza’ as the official name for the novel influenza virus which is rapidly spreading around the world.
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•Date:1st May 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic preparedness: key questions your chief executive will be asking
To anticipate the questions that your chief executive will be asking, Malcolm Cornish has drawn up a list of questions to which you would be well advised to have some clear answers.
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•Date: 30th April 2009• Region:UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Nine-steps for pandemic planning
Advice from the TABB Group.
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•Date: 30th April 2009• Region:US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Face masks : when and when not to use them in pandemic situations
Advice from the UK Health Protection Agency.
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•Date:30th April 2009• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO raises pandemic alert level to phase 5
The World Health Organization has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to phase 5.
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•Date:29th April 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic level raised to four
The WHO Emergency Committee held its second meeting about swine influenza on 27 April 2009 and decided that it was appropriate to raise the pandemic alert level from three to four.
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•Date:28th April 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic plan sense check
Link Associates has published a useful checklist for companies wishing to review existing pandemic contingency plans.
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•Date: 28th April 2009• Region:UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Swine influenza update page
The current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern: WHO Emergency Committee. This page will be updated with news and resources as the incident develops.
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•Date:26th April 2009• Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Major pandemic exercise held in Wales
A major exercise was held across Wales on 23 April, focusing on local preparations for a flu pandemic.
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•Date:24th April 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Version four of London Flu Pandemic Response Plan published
New version incorporates the recommendations of Cabinet Office
multi-agency pandemic planning review.
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•Date:17th April 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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iJET issues pandemic preparedness report
Report demonstrates need for continued pandemic planning despite challenging economic climate.
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•Date:19th March 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK to double pandemic flu drug stockpiles
Enough anti-viral drugs will be available for a worst-case pandemic flu scenario.
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•Date:30th January 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Applying IT strategy to protecting people
On a day-to-day level communicable diseases can have a significant impact on operations. In a pandemic outbreak the impact will be a real threat to business continuity. In this article Hillary Spicer explains how similar thinking to IT system protection can be used to reduce building occupants’ exposure to communicable diseases.
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•Date: 23rd Dec 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning slips down the UK business agenda
Three quarters of UK bosses are not supportive of pandemic planning, according to Continuity Forum survey.
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•Date:22nd Dec 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: BC statistics
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Lloyds publishes report on pandemic impacts
Emerging Risks Team stresses the need to be prepared.
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•Date: 21st October 2008• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Is post-pandemic recovery planning being ignored in pandemic plans?
What needs to be considered in post-pandemic plans? David Honour opens the debate...
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•Date: 19th Sept 2008• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK Tripartite Authorities release pandemic exercise materials
Useful resources from the Market-wide Exercise 2006 published.
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•Date: 31st July 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Testing and exercising
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New academic report identifies pandemic planning weaknesses in European businesses
Government advice is insufficient to ensure that the private sector is equipped to deal with a pandemic.
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•Date: 12th June 2008• Region: UK/Europe •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Supplementary Guidance for Local Resilience Forum planners’
New guidance from the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat.
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•Date: 22nd May 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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New pandemic guidance published by UK government
A new document ‘Planning for a Possible Influenza Pandemic – A Framework for Planners Preparing to Manage Deaths’ has been published by the UK government. It aims to assist local authorities in making plans for dealing with additional deaths arising from an influenza pandemic. Read the document
•Date: 20th May 2008• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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London Regional Resilience Flu Pandemic Response Plan updated
Version three now available.
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•Date: 15th May 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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New light shone on why 1918 flu spread so widely and rapidly
MIT researchers have explained why two mutations in the H1N1 avian flu virus were critical for viral transmission in humans during the 1918 pandemic outbreak that killed at least 50 million people.
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•Date: 20th February 2008• Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Chair appointed for UK Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group
Appointment aimed at making Scientific Advisory Group on Pandemic Influenza more flexible and independent.
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•Date: 8th January 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Preparing for Pandemic Influenza - Guidance to Local Planners’
The UK Cabinet Office has published updated information on pandemic planning for local authority emergency planners.
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•Date: 14th Dec 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Recovery Site Providers' Statement of Intent’ published
Describes how the UK’s large business continuity providers will maintain their service during a pandemic.
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•Date: 27th Nov 2007• Region:UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government publishes final version of ‘A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic’
Takes into account comments made about the draft version of the document as well as lessons learned from the Winter Willow national pandemic planning exercise.
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•Date: 22nd Nov 2007• Region:UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning updates
FBIIC/FSSCC reports on pandemic ‘flu exercise; Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza detected; Projected supply of pandemic influenza vaccine sharply increases.
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•Date: 26th October 2007• Region: Various •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Is the likelihood of an influenza pandemic over-played?
A comment article by Continuity Central’s editor, David Honour.
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•Date: 27th Sept 2007• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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New report highlights 'pandemic fatigue'
Marsh and The Albright Group study says that the impact of a pandemic is likely to exceed what most corporate and governmental leaders have imagined, or are prepared for.
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•Date: 27th Sept 2007• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Unknown high mortality illness breaks out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
WHO responding rapidly to investigate; an important aspect of pandemic planning is to monitor outbreaks of all new communicable diseases.
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•Date: 6th Sept 2007• Region: Africa/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Exercise Winter Willow - lessons learned document published
Issues needing action were identified in the areas of crisis management and co-ordination, public advice and communication, further policy development and business continuity.
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•Date: 31st Aug 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Planning for a Possible Influenza Pandemic – A Framework for Planners Preparing to Manage Deaths’
A new draft guidance paper from the UK Home Office: feedback sought.
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•Date: 31st Aug 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO report highlights the ongoing pandemic risk caused by established and new pathogens
Pandemic influenza remains the main global infectious disease threat, but other pathogens such as Ebola haemorrhagic fever and Marburg fever could also create major pandemics.
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•Date: 24th August 2007• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK government announces advanced supply contracts for pandemic ‘flu vaccine
Under these contracts GSK and Baxter are committed to supply a pandemic influenza vaccine as soon as the pandemic strain is identified and made available by the World Health Organization.
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•Date: 20th August 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Market-wide Exercise seminar resources
On 19 July 2007 over 120 delegates from a wide range of organisations attended a seminar in London to share the lessons learnt during the 2006 Market-wide Exercise about business response to a pandemic. A PowerPoint giving details of the various presentations and resources made available at the event is available here.
•Date: 3rd August 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector
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‘Overview of Financial Sector Pandemic Flu Planning’
New UK Tripartite Authorities report.
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•Date: 26th June 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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New International Health Regulations come into force
Will help to make the world more secure from threats to global health, such as pandemic ‘flu.
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•Date: 15th June 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO moves on plans for H5N1 influenza global vaccine stockpile
GlaxoSmithKline has said that it will contribute to the H5N1 global vaccine stockpile and Omninvest of Hungary, Baxter and sanofi pasteur have also indicated their willingness to make some of their H5N1 vaccine available.
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•Date: 14th June 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Vast majority of UK businesses are unprepared for an influenza pandemic
According to YouGov research.
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•Date: 31st May 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic planning updates…
Recent news in the area of pandemic planning.
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•Date: 20th April 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK Department of Health releases draft ‘National framework for responding to an influenza pandemic’
Draft for comment sets out the government's strategic aims for responding to an influenza pandemic; includes a section on business continuity.
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•Date: 20th March 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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If a pandemic hits, who will turn up?
Survey asks commuters whether they would travel to work during an influenza pandemic.
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•Date: 20th March 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Clinical studies provide hope for a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine
New GSK vaccine may help prepare, or 'prime', the human immune system to rapidly respond against variants of the H5N1 strain.
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•Date: 7th March 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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RMS releases first commercially available influenza pandemic probabilistic risk model
The model can be leveraged to allow corporate risk managers to understand the operational impact and estimated economic loss associated with a full range of influenza pandemic scenarios at the company-specific level.
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•Date: 27th Feb 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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'Flu pandemic could result in a bandwidth-choking surge in online traffic - telework plans at risk: Computerworld
Continuity Central explores the facts behind the headline.
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•Date: 16th Feb 2007 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Avian ‘flu – Marsh publishes insurance and risk update
Following the outbreak of H5N1 in the UK, Marsh outlines the risks and insurance implications for British businesses arising from Avian ‘flu and any future human pandemic.
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•Date: 8th Feb 2007 • Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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IFPMA publishes pandemic preparedness guidance
Business continuity planning advice aimed at the pharmaceutical and health care industry.
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•Date: 25th January 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Influenza updates
Scientists assess risk of potential ‘flu pandemic spread via global airlines; UN agency urges vigilance as new outbreaks of bird ‘flu are reported.
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•Date: 24th January 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Influenza updates
Bird ‘flu again spreads across Asia; Pandemic ‘flu unlikely to spread through water systems; Ramifications of widespread use of Tamiflu.
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•Date: 17th January 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK Financial Sector Market Wide Exercise 2006 report now available
The feedback from participants shows ‘unequivocally' that the objectives were met.
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•Date: 5th January 2007 • Region: UK•Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector
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UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat to explore impact of pandemics on the workplace
Employer and employee surveys will help companies make more realistic absence plans.
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•Date: 19th Dec 2006• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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The pandemic threat: Aon assesses the ongoing risk to business
A sense of complacency seems to be creeping in…
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•Date: 8th Dec 2006• Region: UK/World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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UK businesses get new pandemic guidance
The UK Cabinet Office has published introductory material on pandemic influenza for businesses and other organisations to raise awareness about pandemic influenza amongst employees. The advice was produced by the Cabinet Office in consultation with the Health Departments and with other government departments. Read the document.
•Date: 18th October 2006• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Details of Annual Market-wide Exercise 2006 published
Tripartite led business continuity exercise will focus on pandemic preparedness of UK financial services sector.
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•Date: 19th Sept 2006• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector
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Financial Stability Forum meets in Paris
Pandemic ‘flu planning and associated business continuity measures were on the agenda.
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•Date: 12th Sept 2006• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector
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Civil Contingencies Secretariat tells UK public sector to prepare for national exercise of pandemic preparedness plans
Local plans should be prepared or updated by the end of November and training and local table top exercises carried out in December and January.
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•Date: 15th August 2006• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Latest pandemic planning resources
GLA Group Pandemic Flu Response Plan: details the contingency arrangements for London in the event of an influenza pandemic.
http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/corporate/flu-reponse.pdf
•Date: 20th July 2006• Region: UK •Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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Avian influenza risk: Defra publishes working document
‘PAI H5N1 situation in Europe and potential risk factors for the introduction of the virus to the United Kingdom.’
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•Date: 7th July 2006• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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‘List of business issues for firms to consider when planning for a pandemic’
The UK FSA’s Financial Sector Discussion Group on Pandemics has published a useful checklist for firms making pandemic business continuity plans.
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•Date: 14th June 2006• Region: UK• Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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‘Business Checklist for Pandemic Flu Planning’
The UK Cabinet Office has published a checklist to help businesses with pandemic ‘flu planning.
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•Date: 18th May 2006• Region: UK• Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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Pandemic simulation exercise reveals potential strains on telecommunications infrastructures
Telecommuting may NOT be a viable contingency option according to an exercise conducted by the World Economic Forum and Booz Allen Hamilton in January: report published this week.
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•Date: 28th April 2006• Region: W.Europe/World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Avian Influenza updates
UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat publishes Avian Influenza resources; Several preventive and control measures agreed by EU Standing Committee; New Zealand pandemic preparedness legislation introduced.
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•Date: 7th April 2006• Region: Various • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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FSA establishes financial sector pandemic planning discussion group
The group’s first action has been to help design a questionnaire that has recently been dispatched to key organisations to assess their preparedness for a pandemic.
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•Date: 4th April 2006• Region: UK• Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector
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FluPlanner: pandemic modelling software available for download
Crisis Solutions has made an Excel-based pandemic impact planning tool available for free download from the Continuity Central website.
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•Date: 24th March 2006 • Region: UK/World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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IMF highlights the potential global economic and financial impact of an influenza pandemic
If a pandemic is severe, the economic impact is likely to be significant, generating a ‘sharp but only temporary decline in global economic activity’.
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•Date: 16th March 2006• Region: World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Cash crisis would result in many London businesses not surviving a ‘flu pandemic
According to a London Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey more than 20 percent of London ’s businesses don’t have sufficient working capital in place to see them through a ‘flu pandemic.
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•Date: 14th March 2006• Region: UK • Type: Article •Topic: BC statistics
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UK Cabinet Office publishes updated ‘Contingency Planning for a Possible Influenza Pandemic’ document
New guidance emphasises the important of the issue, stating that the government judges the possible emergence of an influenza pandemic to be one of the highest current risks to the UK.
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•Date: 27th Feb 2006• Region: UK • Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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WHO publishes draft proposals for rapid response and containment of high-risk influenza outbreak
The World Health Organization has published a new document: “WHO pandemic influenza draft protocol for rapid response and containment.”
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•Date: 1st Feb 2006• Region: World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Potential breakthrough in H5N1 vaccine development
New genetically engineered vaccine provides 100 percent protection against avian flu virus in study.
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•Date: 27th Jan 2006• Region: US/World • Type: Article •Topic: US Pandemic planning
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Pandemic Flu - Workplace Guidance
The UK Health and Safety Executive has published a new document with the above title which provides advice to business on pandemic influenza. The short PDF includes general advice from HSE for employers/employees concerned about exposure to pandemic flu at work. It also offers information on how the agents that cause influenza and pandemic influenza are classified under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH). Read the document
•Date: 18th Jan 2006• Region: UK • Type: Briefing •Topic: Pandemic planning - UK
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UK government forms new Cabinet committee to coordinate pandemic planning
The Health secretary Patricia Hewitt will chair a new Cabinet committee which has been established to coordinate pandemic planning. The published remit for the committee is "to guide the preparations for a potential influenza pandemic and related international activity"
•Date: 16th Dec 2005 • Region: UK • Type: Briefing •Topic: UK pandemic planning
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Global Health Security Initiative agrees bioterror and pandemic ‘flu action plans
Members of the Global Health Security Initiative met recently in Rome to discuss the international response to deliberate actions, such as terrorism, and naturally occurring threats to global health, such as pandemic 'flu.
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•Date: 22nd Nov 2005 • Region: Various • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Continuity Central pandemic planning survey results: PART 2
Respondents to the above survey provided many useful insights into how pandemic business continuity planning is actually being done...
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•Date: 18th Nov 2005 •Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Tamiflu investigation leaves business continuity planners confused
Some reporting in national media may have left business continuity planners concerned that there is an immediate risk that the drug will be withdrawn. This is extremely unlikely.
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•Date: 18th Nov 2005 • Region: World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Business continuity guidelines for coping with a global 'flu pandemic to be developed
A project designed to address the specific issue of business continuity during a global flu pandemic is being organised by Survive, with support from Tamiflu manufacturer Roche Products Limited.
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•Date: 18th Nov 2005 • Region: UK • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Continuity Central pandemic planning survey results
The vast majority of business continuity managers believe that it is important that pandemic impacts are covered by BCPs - however levels of preparation vary greatly from sector to sector.
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•Date: 11th Nov 2005 •Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: BC statistics
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New avian influenza resources published by government
The Health Protection Agency has issued revised interim guidelines for the investigation and reporting of suspected human cases of avian influenza. These can be viewed here (PDF). In addition, the HSE has made an avian influenza factsheet available.
•Date: 10th Nov 2005 • Region: UK • Type: Briefing •Topic: BC general
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Gartner tells business continuity leaders to make preparations for the impact of an Avian Influenza pandemic
Offers a checklist of business continuity actions.
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•Date: 31st Oct 2005 • Region: UK/World • Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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EC steps up pandemic preparedness planning
The European Commission is preparing a number of initiatives which aim to help Member States co-ordinate their actions.
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•Date: 20th Oct 2005 • Region: W.Europe/UK • Type: Article •Topic: Emergency plan.
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Pandemic planning is important to business continuity : but the majority of plans don’t yet take it into consideration
The interim results of Continuity Central’s current survey.
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•Date: 11th October 2005 • Region: World • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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ARTICLES

A major pandemic checklist and assessment matrix
What factors should be considered when developing a business continuity plan for pandemic scenarios? Ian Rogers offers some useful checklist style advice.
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A new planning paradigm: economic consequences of a pandemic
Geary W. Sikich takes a detailed look at the potential impacts of a pandemic and asks ‘business continuity planners - what are you doing?’
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Avian ‘flu: what does it mean to business continuity?
Tim Armit attempts to separate the real business continuity issues from the hype surrounding pandemic influenza.
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Banks and avian flu: planning for a possible pandemic
Many of the assumptions underlying much of today’s business continuity planning will not hold in a pandemic. Pat McConnell explains.
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Bird flu: overview and economic considerations
A detailed report on the impacts of a ‘flu pandemic on businesses, by Bradford Frank.
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Business continuity during an avian 'flu pandemic
Leslie Whittet provides a very helpful overview of the measures that organisations should consider when including pandemic scenarios in business continuity plans.
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Communicable diseases: business continuity issues
Continued concern over Avian flu and the threat of a global influenza pandemic make planning for such eventualities a high priority. Jeremy Haworth, MBCI, outlines the lessons he learned during the 2003 SARS crisis.
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Pandemic business continuity planning – things to consider
A very practical guide to pandemic planning for business continuity professionals, by Dr. Jim Kennedy.
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Pandemic or pandemonium? Drawing on crisis management best practice to prepare for the worst
Chris Woodcock looks at the crisis management and communications aspects of pandemic planning.
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Pandemic planning: a review of respirator and mask protection levels
Many business continuity planners are considering the use of respiratory protection equipment to reduce the threat to staff from pandemic influenza – but such equipment may be of little genuine use, says Jeff Charlton.
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Ten assumption-busting guiding principles for business pandemic planning
There are key differences between a pandemic and any other disruptive event – Dan Dorman explains what these are and how business continuity plans need to be adapted to address them.
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The five stages of pandemic response planning
Charlie Straker provides a practical checklist to help business continuity managers develop pandemic response plans.
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INFORMATION RESOURCES

World Health Organisation update page
UK Government Pandemic resources
Department of Health: Influenza pandemic contingency plan
HPA: Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan

Know of a link we should add? Let us know