Are you feeling fatigue from all the talk of H1N1?

By now we all know someone who has had H1N1 flu. Luckily, for most, the case has been mild.  But, for others, the virus has caused fatigue and missed days of work and school.  You may be feeling "pandemic fatigue" from all the press out there and the CDC postings. With all the information flowing from blogs to webinars to CNN reports it is easy to get overloaded and tired. I encourage you not to lose focus on H1N1's potential impact to your family and business over the coming months.  Why?

There continues to be increasing numbers of cases across the US. We are seeing case numbers that are higher than some of the worst past flu seasons.  Outbreaks on college and university campuses across the country have surged again after declining. While most cases continue to be mild according to the American College Health Association, the number of K-12 school closings across the country continues to rise, as reported by the US Department of Education. The World Health Organization reports that there is widespread disease across the northern hemisphere. Mexico is seeing more flu cases now than they saw in the initial outbreak in April/May. Europe is experiencing an unusually early flu season with wide spread cases.  Young people are still being affected. There were 18 pediatric deaths reported last week and the vast majority of deaths are in people younger than 65 years old.  And, in terms of the public health response, although the US Government had originally predicted that we would have 60-80 million doses by this point, only 38 million have been shipped impacting vaccination programs here in Nashville and across the US.  Keep in mind all vaccine coming out now is going to the high priority groups. You and your employees will not get access to the vaccine until next year. As Dr. Stuart Weiss, a doctor and global pandemic expert related to us in his MedPrep Consulting e-mail blast about the lack of access to the vaccination: "one government official testified that the current flu outbreak may be over before adequate vaccine is available for the general population. That is why it is important to continue your pandemic planning and take appropriate employee protection steps."

If you have finished writing plans and policies, think about validating those plans or policies with an external audit or small drills and exercises.  Contact Patmos if we can provide planning assistance to you.  We have policy guidances on staffing, employee educational materials, and a trigger based action plan to supplement your existing business continuity plan.  To be better prepared for what is to come, we can help you kick start your planning or take a look at your current plans with a fresh set of eyes.