Birdflu Mailing List: European efforts on the potential birdflu pandemic

[Zsolt Vincze (ZVincze]

This is an article from Reuters - maybe there are a few things we can
learn from it.

 

Zsolt

 

02/21 10:03p CST European businesses draw up contingency plans for
possible

European businesses draw up contingency plans for possible bird flu

pandemic 

AP Photos planned 

By JANE WARDELL=

AP Business Writer=

   LONDON (AP) _ Supermarkets, airports, banks and other businesses

across Europe have begun preparing to cope with a possible

full-scale outbreak of a human variety of bird flu.

   Businesses _ especially those that deal closely with the public

_ are planning activities from arranging regular hand-washing

breaks to ordering protective face masks in an attempt to curb the

potential economic impact of any outbreak.

   ``There are many companies who may not survive a pandemic, and

planning needs to start now,'' said Guy Otty, managing director of

London-based risk management company Business Forums International,

which is receiving inquiries from thousands of companies.

   The World Bank estimates the cost of a global pandemic at as

much as US$800 billion ( 670 billion) a year, knocking 2 percent

off global gross domestic product, and that employee absenteeism

could hit 25 to 50 percent.

   ``It would be quite the logistical problem worldwide,'' said

Cathy West, a spokeswoman for British Airways _ one of the many

businesses that is taking concrete steps as the deadly H5N1 strain

of the bird flu virus spreads across Europe.

   ``Our goal would be to match passenger demand with staff

availability,'' West said, adding that airline officials have gone

through several scenarios to cope with passenger drop-offs.

   The SARS epidemic in 2003, which spread rapidly via air travel,

decimated Asia's tourism industry, cutting annual international

arrivals by more than 15 million and costing the region US$11

billion ( 9.17 billion).

   At London's Heathrow Airport, spokesman Damon Hunt said the

focus was on increasing hygiene among employees and limiting

contact with frequent ``touch points'' such as hand rails that may

help spread the disease.

   Airport officials will also encourage employees to regularly

wash their hands, use alcohol wipes, avoid hand-to-mouth contact

and carefully dispose of tissues. The airport has also devised

plans to cope with less staff, including the possibility of using

trained volunteers.

   In France, one of seven EU nations so far to confirm an outbreak

of H5N1, the leading business federation urged companies to begin

preparing immediately.

   Medef, which represents more than 750,000 businesses, has issued

detailed recommendations that include ordering filtration masks for

workers in close contact with public such as supermarket staff,

cashiers, receptionists and security guards.

   The organization said businesses should consider taking measures

to stop the spread of flu by switching off air conditioning and

recommended that during any pandemic workers not shake each others'

hands.

   French supermarket chain Auchan is already planning to give

workers breaks every three hours to wash their hands. Swiss

supermarket group Migros is sending out protection kits _ including

protective suits, masks and gloves _ to about 100 employees who

handle poultry products and some 500 farm workers.

   Billa, Austria's largest supermarket chain, said it has set up a

task force on how to respond to a pandemic.

   ``With over 1,900 stores all over Austria, Billa has to decide

which stores would have to stay open during a possible pandemic,''

spokeswoman Corinna Tinkler said. ``Of course there are

considerations on how we could protect our employees,'' she said,

but declined to give details.

   British supermarkets Sainsbury's and Tesco said their

contingency plans have been in place since last year but also

declined to elaborate.

   Hungary this week became the seventh EU nation _ alongside

France, Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Slovenia _ to confirm

an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. So far, no EU

nations have reported bird flu in commercial stocks or in humans.

   The EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner, Joaquin

Almunia, said Tuesday the risks of an epidemic had not been

factored into economic forecasts.

   ``Of course there is a risk there, but so far we have not

quantified this risks,'' he said.

   Berlin-based drug producer Schering said it founded a task force

in October to address the issue, and has a plan in place that

covers the company's 140 subsidiaries and more than 25,000

employees worldwide.

   ``It ranges from a crisis plan to a hygiene plan to business

contingency plans,'' said spokeswoman Denise Rennmann. ``The goal

is to maintain the production of life-saving drugs and protect the

employees as much as possible.''

   Austria's Erste Bank said it has enough of the antiviral drug

Tamiflu in stock to supply all its employees.

   ``Our employees in eastern Europe were already supplied with

Tamiflu when the first cases of bird flu occurred last year,'' said

spokesman Michael Mauritz.

   However, other businesses cautioned against a knee-jerk reaction

to a crisis that may never come about.

   Lego has not yet made any special contingency plans, said

spokeswoman Charlotte Simonsen.

   ``We are always prepared for a sort of crisis management, but we

don't have anything specific for bird flu,'' she said. ``Not that

many have been affected or have died from it, so maybe we're taking

it a little more coolly.''

   Danish brewer Carlsberg said it was prepared to deal with any

outbreak.

   ``As a global company we have to be alert, and we have our

systems that will be able to address this problem, if it should

become a problem, but right now there's no reason for reaction,''

said spokesman Jens Peter Skaarup. ``We are just like a fire

department _ we keep the cars in the garage at home but are ready

to use them if we need them.''

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