Planning for a flu pandemic - a business guide

Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has reminded the enterprise sector that a user friendly and practical guide entitled Business Continuity Planning - Responding to an Influenza Pandemic is freely available.

Re-launching the Guide, the Tánaiste said: 'In light of the growing concerns about the risk of a worldwide flu pandemic, and with the increase by the World Health Organisation of the pandemic alert to Level 5, the time is now opportune for businesses who do not yet have continuity plans in place to prepare them, and for those who do have plans to revisit them.'

She continued, 'Although the impact of the current influenza strain is as yet unclear, the potential risk posed to business by pandemic influenza is serious. An influenza pandemic would have a significant impact on economic activity and would pose a major threat to business continuity. Business continuity planning for high risks should be part of normal business practice and many large companies and financial institutions already have plans in place for an influenza pandemic.'

And she added: 'Two years ago, a study found that there was a lack of preparedness in the SME sector in particular for the outbreak of a flu pandemic. Business Continuity Planning - Responding to an Influenza Pandemic is aimed at increasing the level of awareness among all Irish businesses of the need to plan for a flu pandemic. The Guide, which was prepared at that time, remains particularly relevant in the current situation. It contains a very useful checklist which businesses can use to plan effectively for a pandemic situation, as well as including ten illustrative case studies across various sectors.'

The Tánaiste concluded by urging all business owners and managers give serious consideration to the advice contained in the Guide and to use the checklist in their business planning preparations.

The Guide is available from the Latest Publications section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website, www.entemp.ie, or directly from http://www.entemp.ie/publications/corporate/2007/flupanreportpart1.pdf. The checklist to assist businesses in the planning process is available separately from http://www.entemp.ie/publications/corporate/2007/flupanreportchecklist.pdf.

The Guide, together with the National Pandemic Influenza Plan published jointly by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive, are part of an overall Government strategy for the preparation for emergency situations of all types.

An article in the journal Science by Professor Neil Ferguson of London's Imperium College found that swine flu has the potential to infect one third of the world's population in the coming autumn/winter 'flu season'.