Fast Facts:
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:
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)
(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:
In Virginia, pandemic flu impact estimates include:
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
Stay informed and get prepared
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.
