News & Information

CCH® HR MANAGEMENT — 1/19/06

Businesses should prepare for potential avian flu outbreak

Private businesses need to act sooner rather than later in preparing for a possible avian flu outbreak, according to William Stanhope, associate director of the Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University School of Public Health. "Businesses need to develop contingency plans immediately that will allow–and encourage–their employees to work from home," he says.

Stanhope, who works with private industry to create simulation exercises for pandemic preparedness and has recently developed avian flu exercises for corporate clients, encourages private business and government to stay in close communication before and during a potential crisis.

"What's most important is for disaster recovery specialists within companies to take a hard look at the national pandemic plan and form a corporate response," advised Stanhope. "And it is absolutely essential for businesses–especially multinational corporations–to meet with their local and state health departments and begin a dialogue. Too often there is a disconnect between private business and public health departments, and we need to bridge that gap as soon as possible so we are prepared if and when the pandemic strikes."

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