Rothstein Associates Inc. Business Survival ™ Weblog

Here are some Pandemic Planning Resource Links I have found particularly useful.

• 2009 swine flu outbreak: Wikipedia
• Noting that workplaces have a vested interest in mitigating the effects of a pandemic, the International Facility Management Association Foundation offered its “Pandemic Preparedness Manual” as a free online resource yesterday. A flu outbreak “could lead to the absenteeism of 25 to 50 percent of employees for up to four months, potentially causing supply chain disruptions and the closure of retail facilities, further impacting the global economic downturn,” the foundation noted in its release. IFMA Foundation Offers Pandemic Readiness Manual

• Swine Flu Online: Panic and Bad Information, by Alex Goldman, Datamation “There’s a lot being said about swine flu on the Internet — but as with any hot topic on the Web, there’s also a lot of noise. A Nielsen report earlier this week noted ‘the chatter about swine flu even dwarfs that of recent viral media star Susan Boyle.’
• CMI business continuity management survey reveals that despite the fact that business managers consider pandemic influenza to be one the most serious risks to business, few are carrying out adequate pandemic planning: CMI Survey Reveals Lack of Pandemic Planning Despite Managers Rating Pandemic Influenza as Second Largest Risk Faced by Businesses Today

• A major exercise was held across Wales on 23 April, 2009 focusing on local preparations for a flu pandemic. Major pandemic exercise held in Wales
• Swine Flu Prompts Aussie CIOs to Revisit Business Continuity Plans:
  CIOs, analysts give their tips for a pandemic business continuity plan (Computerworld)
• Gartner Says Swine Flu Is a Reason to Act, Not Panic
• Swine flu puts disaster recovery in spotlight, by Nestor E. Arellano, ITWorldCanada.com
• IT Managers Prepared for the Pandemic: Swine flu scare reminds IT pros why telework must be a part of business continuity plans, Network World
• Is Telecommuting the Way to Avoid Swine Flu, by Anne Bednarz, Network World. “The possibility of a widespread swine flu outbreak is prompting companies to think about business continuity and how options such as telework may become a necessity.”
• The Center for Disease Control’s main Swine Flu information page, with links to other pages
• This February, 2007 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department for Health and Human Services includes special information for childcare centers, businesses, schools, colleges and universities, faith based and community organizations and individuals and families. See Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance — Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States: Early, Targeted, Layered Use of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions.
• PandemicFlu.gov is a United States government portal that gathers information about pandemic influenza and provides links to it from a single website.
• Individual and family planning guide — includes multiple languages
• These planning checklists are intended to aid preparation for a pandemic in a coordinated and consistent manner across all segments of society. Includes checklists for state and local governments, families and a variety of organizations.
• National Swine Flu Situation Page ™ link: http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/Situationpagenews.asp?af=&sit=4540&z=&np=&tp=14
• Interactive Flu World Status Map
• Swine Flu: is this pandemic we have been waiting for? by Peter H. Gregory for Securitas Operandi.
• Swine Flu links page, from Allhands.net
• Swine Flu Resources Proliferate Across the Web from Government Technology
• Swine Flu Outbreak Puts Attention on Pandemic Planning at Universities, Apr 28, 2009, By Elaine Rundle, Government Technology
• Swine flu: Expect 40% absentee rate says Gartner from CIO
• Nine Steps for Pandemic Planning, Continuity Central
• Pandemic Preparedness: Key Questions your Chief Executive will be asking, Continuity Central
• Pandemic business continuity planning – the time to act is now: A comprehensive checklist by Dr. Jim Kennedy, Continuity Central
• Swine Flu Fears Raise Questions About Business Continuity Plans
  Despite recent power blackouts in Sydney and the threat of a swine flu pandemic, many Australian organisations are still “flying by the seat of their pants” claim experts. Tim Lohman  01 May, 2009, CIO
• The Australian Government has prepared a range of tools to help you and your business prepare for a human influenza pandemic in Australia. These tools include:
  • A practical and comprehensive Business Continuity Guide for Australian Businesses
  • A Kit for Small Businesses including
    • A short explanatory booklet
    • A Pandemic Planning Checklist for Small Business
    • A series of health posters to assist in controlling infection
    • Reference sheets
• http://flu.wikia.com/wiki/Flu_Wiki -Health Departments of US states of USA
• American Red Cross Pandemic Flu Resources

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