Pandemic Influenza

Pandemic Flu Planning for Businesses

 

Fast Facts:

  • Pandemic influenza, or flu, is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person.
  • Seasonal flu is a viral infection of the lungs that appears each year between November and March.
  • About 36,000 Americans die each year from seasonal flu. A pandemic flu could claim half a million lives.
  • Experts agree: it is not a question of if, but when the next flu pandemic will strike.
  • A flu pandemic could last for a year or more, infecting up to one-third of the population of the United States.
  • Despite all preparedness efforts, Virginia will not be spared from a flu pandemic.
  • All businesses, hospitals and government agencies will feel the effects of a pandemic.
  • Ten to 25 percent of your workforce may be ill at any one time.
  • Unlike other disasters, a flu pandemic will touch every population in every part of the country. Moving operations to another location may not be a viable option.
  • A flu pandemic could cost the U. S. economy billions of dollars in lost productivity and medical expenses. During a pandemic, it will not be business as usual.

In the event of a pandemic, planning by business leaders will be critical to protecting employees' health, limiting the negative economic impact and ensuring the continued delivery of essential services like food, medicine, water and power. Government alone will not be able to provide answers to all of the issues facing society. Businesses of all sizes must engage in pandemic planning of their own and integrating their plans into state and federal efforts. So where do you start? Ask yourself these questions:

  • How will you maintain your business operations when 10 to 25 percent of the workforce falls ill at one time?
  • How can you adapt your existing continuity of operations plans to reflect this kind of human resources impact?
  • How will you cope when the other businesses and suppliers you rely on experience the same absentee rates?
  • How will you adapt to disruptions in the supply chain for the raw materials you need and how will you get your product to the consumer if your distribution network is hit with high absentee rates?
  • How can existing return-to-work and travel policies be adapted to control the spread of this virus among employees?
  • How will you limit the economic impact of a flu pandemic on your business?

These, and many other issues are being grappled with at the national and state levels, but experts agree that it will be the local response efforts that are most taxed by a pandemic.

 

This guide is designed to help businesses minimize the risk a flu pandemic poses to employees, and their bottom line.

 

What can I do to Prepare My Business for Pandemic Flu? (checklist)

  • Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your business.
    Identify essential employees and other critical elements required to maintain operations. Determine the potential impact of personnel, supply and distribution disruptions resulting from a pandemic. Establish an emergency communications plan.
  • Test your pandemic flu plan with periodic drills.
    This is the only way to know if the plans you have in place actually work and if your employees know what to do during an emergency.
  • Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your employees and customers.
    Forecast and allow for employee absences for personal illness, family member illness, community containment and quarantine measures, school and business closures and public transportation closures. Improve employee access to health care, mental health and social services. Establish ways to limit face-to-face contact among employees and customers.
  • Establish policies to be implemented during a pandemic.
    Develop sick-leave, return-to-work and travel policies unique to a pandemic. Establish policies on telecommuting and staggered shifts that can help limit person-to-person spread of disease within your workplace. Determine other measures your business can put into place to prevent flu spread at work.
  • Allocate resources to protect your employees and customers during a pandemic.
    Provide infection-control supplies including hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, tissues and waste receptacles. Enhance your telecommuting abilities and infrastructure. Establish availability of emergency medical consultation.
  • Communicate to and educate your employees.
    Provide updated, accurate materials covering basic pandemic flu facts and personal protection and response strategies. Encourage good hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette. Educate employees about your pandemic flu plan. Provide information on at-home care of ill employees and family members. Develop ways to communicate status and actions to employees, vendors, suppliers and customers.
  • Coordinate with external organizations and help your community.
    Share plans with insurers and health care providers to understand one another’s plans and capabilities. Collaborate with federal, state and local public health agencies to participate in planning, understand your community’s capabilities and offer your business’ services. Exchange best practices with other businesses.
  • The number one thing you can do to prepare for a pandemic is to learn as much as you can and plan ahead of time.

(This checklist was adapted from information on www.pandemicflu.gov. Visit the Web site for a complete list.)

 

Pandemic Flu Overview

Public health, government, health care and private-sector entities all face daunting and complicated questions about how prepared they are to react to a disease outbreak unlike any seen since the early 20th century. The possibility of a virus so powerful that it could render millions ill over the course of a year or more prompts questions regarding the capacity of our health care system and economy to cope with a pandemic.

 

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been leading efforts in the Commonwealth to educate the public about the difference between seasonal flu, Avian Flu and a flu pandemic, and to provide local governments and decision makers with tools and tips they can use to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic. However, public health officials alone cannot answer all of the questions raised by a pandemic of flu.

 

As we undertake these efforts, we are asking for your assistance as well. In order to ensure maximum preparedness, businesses should develop specific plans for the ways that you would protect your employees and maintain operations during a pandemic. Companies that provide critical infrastructure services, such as power and telecommunications, also have a special responsibility to plan for continued operation in a crisis. As with any catastrophe, having a contingency plan is essential.

 

What is the Flu?

Influenza, or flu, is a respiratory disease spread mainly by tiny droplets that are released when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Seasonal flu outbreaks occur most often in late fall and winter. With many different types of flu virus circulating in the globe, each year the world is faced with a new strain causing seasonal flu.

 

Once people have been infected by a certain strain of the flu, they develop immunity. But the flu is a tricky virus that keeps changing forms. It can change to a new influenza A virus that has not previously circulated, meaning very few people are immune to it. This is the first step toward a pandemic.

 

What is a Pandemic?

Pandemic flu by definition is a global outbreak of the disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.

What’s the difference between a pandemic and a seasonal outbreak of flu?

 

Seasonal Flu

Pandemic Flu

Outbreaks follow predictable seasonal patterns; occurs annually, usually in winter, in temperate climates

Occurs rarely (three times in 20th century - last in 1968)

Usually some immunity built up from previous exposure

No previous exposure; little or no pre-existing immunity

Healthy adults usually not at risk for serious complications; the very young, the elderly and those with certain underlying health conditions at increased risk for serious complications

Healthy people may be at increased risk for serious complications

Health systems can usually meet public and patient needs

Health systems may be overwhelmed

Vaccine developed based on known flu strains and available for annual flu season

Vaccine probably would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic

Adequate supplies of antiviral medications are usually available

Effective antiviral medications may be in limited supply

Average U.S. deaths approximately 36,000/year

Number of deaths could be quite high (the U.S. 1918 death toll was approximately 500,000)

Symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, muscle pain. Deaths often caused by complications, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms may be more severe and complications more frequent

Generally causes modest impact on society (some school closings, encouragement of people who are sick to stay home)

May cause major impact on society (widespread restrictions on travel, closings of schools and businesses, cancellation of large public gatherings)

Manageable impact on domestic and world economy

Potential for severe impact on domestic and world economy

 

When is the next flu pandemic expected?

No one can predict when a pandemic might occur, but public health experts believe it is only a matter of time before the next one arises. Three pandemics occurred in the 20th century in 1918, 1957 and 1968, all of which spread around the world within one year of being detected. Of these, the 1918 Spanish Flu was the most severe, with 50 million or more deaths worldwide.

 

Experts around the world are watching the H5N1 avian (bird) flu situation in Asia very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person. If this happens, the next pandemic could begin very soon, or it may take several years for a pandemic flu virus to develop and begin spreading worldwide.

 

What is Virginia doing to address pandemic flu?

In Virginia, pandemic flu planning efforts have been underway for several years. A draft pandemic flu response plan was developed in 2002 that gives Virginia a template for dealing with this issue. This plan is updated continually as new information becomes available.

 

Recently, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has led efforts to create a Pandemic Flu Advisory Committee comprising representation from the fields of public health, private industry, law enforcement, government and the private health care industry. This group advises VDH and decision makers about the complex issues surrounding pandemic flu and assists with the planning of the Commonwealth’s preparedness efforts. This team began meeting in 2005 to develop additional strategies and enhance Virginia’s pandemic flu response plans. Virginia is also working closely with national and other state partners to coordinate our efforts with those taking place throughout our country.

 

VDH is also leading public information efforts to raise awareness of this issue and to help Virginians better understand the complex issues that will arise if pandemic flu becomes a reality. These include prioritizing who will receive scarce medications and vaccine supplies and how a pandemic will impact the daily activities we all take for granted such as having to close schools or cancel sporting events and large public gatherings during a pandemic.

 

What risks do Virginians face if there is a pandemic of flu?

If a new and severe strain of flu were to begin spreading across the globe, Virginia would not be spared from its impact. The severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, but modeling studies suggest that its effect in the United States could be severe. In the absence of any control measures (vaccination or drugs), it has been estimated that in the United States a “medium–level” pandemic could cause:

  • 89,000 to 207,000 deaths
  • 314,000 and 734,000 hospitalizations
  • 18 to 42 million outpatient visits
  • 20 to 47 million people becoming sick
  • An economic impact ranging between $71.3 and $166.5 billion

In Virginia, pandemic flu impact estimates include:

  • 2,700 to 6,300 deaths
  • 12,000 to 28,500 hospitalizations
  • 575,000 to 1.35 million outpatient visits
  • 1.08 million to 2.52 million people becoming sick

How will a pandemic impact my business?

No one knows for sure exactly how widespread or severe an impact will come from the next pandemic. However, concerns for businesses will be many. It will not be business as usual.

 

The large number of sick and incapacitated people will include a significant segment of your workforce—up to 25 to 30 percent. Limitations on public gathering and fear among healthy people could limit the number of customers who may be able to access your services. Key supply and distribution networks could be significantly impacted. Close quarters and large gatherings (such as tight office spaces or large meetings) may encourage person-to-person spread of the disease. Ill children and family members may cause employees to miss work.

 

These are just some of the unique impacts that a pandemic may have on your business, which is why employers need to think in advance about personnel policies to limit the spread and impact of illness among the workforce. Businesses may also have to think creatively about how to supply, distribute and market their products and services during a pandemic.

 

Protect your business and employees

Practice good health habits, including eating a balanced diet, exercising daily and getting sufficient rest and take common-sense steps to stop the spread of germs.

 

Stop the spread of germs

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
  • Wash hands thoroughly and often. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when hand washing is not possible
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth
  • Stay home when you are sick

Stay informed and get prepared

  • Visit the Virginia pandemic flu Web site http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/PandemicFlu, and the federal pandemic flu site, www.pandemicflu.gov, for more information on pandemic flu and how to prepare, as well as to get the latest national and international updates about the development of potential pandemic flu viruses.
  • To find out more about preparing your business for any emergency, go to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Web site, www.vaemergency.com/business.

Portions of this brochure were adapted from materials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, www.pandemicflu.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.