Pandemic planning resources: UK

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

LATEST NEWS

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