Business planning for a pandemic: what can be done to keep ahead of the avian flu?

• Author: McCorkle, Vern C.

Once Alaska was singled out as "ground zero" a few weeks ago, and the primary landing zone for the introduction of Avian Flu to the U.S. and North America, some folks looked up and began to take notice. The electronic and print media have recently given time and space to a pandemic possibility potential. Even the federal government (not F.E.M.A., thankfully) has allegedly begun to work the problem by calling a top-secret White House meeting to which major drug manufacturers and top echelon health officials were invited. The topic discussed and even that such a meeting took place has never been released to the public.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Although some eminent authorities poo poo Avian Flu, most experts holding high credentials and long experience in disease control contend that Avian Flu spreading to the U.S. is not a matter of when or where. As for when, they are not sure--perhaps very soon--but as to where, Alaska is a foregone conclusion. The East Asian-Australian Flyway and the migratory birds it transports intersects with the Pacific-Americas Flyway and its aeronautical voyagers--in Alaska! Ergo, Alaska will be the landing zone where millions of feathered friends meet and greet. A place where, alas, Alaska has for decades prided itself as being a friendly host, a place where birdwatchers could count on adding at least one new species to their "Life List." (In this context, life list seems almost a misnomer.)

BUSINESS ON THE FRONTLINE

If Avian Influenza spreads, becoming a pandemic (see definition box), then business will be on the front line of offense for helping to plan for and protect the health and safety of its employees. Likewise, attempting to contain and limit a possible negative impact on the local and national economy, society and their customers and clients.

Planning for Pandemic Avian Flu is critical. Those who do not, do so at their own peril, say experts of long experience. Checklists of points for creating such pandemic planning programs are becoming more prevalent each day. They include thought starters like:

Quarantine, Boundary Closures.

Containment of a pandemic might conceivably include isolating Alaska from the rest of the Lower 48 on orders issued by a panic-stricken Homeland Security official, or even a president. It would be easy enough to do. Given the number of armed forces resident in Alaska, all borders and points of entry into the Great Land could be sealed off in about eight hours.

Considering the...