Pandemic Bird Flu Preparedness for Businesses

Running Head : Pandemic Bird Flu

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Bird Flu is a disease whose causative agent is H5N1 virus , which is carried by animals especially Birds . It is characterized by rapid spread and sudden death . Currently there is no vaccine , and no immunity against the viral infection , thus many infected people , despite their immune system strength (World Health Organization , 2007

The pandemic phases are subdivided into three periods namely intrapandemic period , pandemic alert period , and pandemic period . In intrapandemic period , there are two phase , phase

one which is characterized by lack of new virus subtypes detected in humans , and phase two , where there is no new virus subtypes detected in humans , but there is an animal variant capable of infected humans

The pandemic alert period , has phase three , in which there is human infection with a new virus subtype , but the virus subtype , cannot be transmitted from human to human . The phase four usually has small clusters of the virus , which can enhance human-to human transmission but the spread is limited and localized . The phase five has larger rival clusters , than phase four but similarly the spread is localized . The pandemic period has the phase six of the pandemic which is characterized by increased and sustained spread and transmission in the given population (Center for Disease Control , 2008

Through watching and listening to news , people can tell when a pandemic is about to start . This is detected using the knowledge of pandemic , and especially their various characteristics . If a cluster of patients who are closely related , or in a common work place are reported to have clinical symptoms of the viral infection at the same time , then one can tell that a pandemic is about to occur . This is because the viral infection transmission and spread is very rapid . If healthy care workers , attending to patients with H5N1 are reported to have the infection , then we can tell that a pandemic is about to start , because of the ability of the Virus to be transmitted to many people within a short time

A business pandemic planning checklist has four parts , which helps in planning the task of the business , and ensuring that the tasks are carried out to completion . These tasks include : plans for the pandemic impact to employees , customers and the entire business . The checklist has sections consisting of policies which need to be used in case of pandemic . The checklist ensures that business sets aside some resources which can be used in protection of customers and employees during a pandemic , and how they can be protected (U .S Health Department 2007 .As part of the checklist , the business is expected to help the community through external coordination with other organization , and to enhance communication and education of its employees on things related to pandemic

When planning for general business continuity , one is expected to set activities or rather process which show outcome deliverable and criteria of evaluation , which acts as a distinct part of the business...