Business Continuity

Pandemic preparedness is a moving target-you need to keep adjusting your expectations and preparations as the situation changes around you

June 13: researchers at the University of Wisconsin reported shifts in the H1N1 virus giving it a greater ability to infect the lungs than common seasonal flu viruses, increasing the [...]

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Rick DeLotto here… H1N1 reached World Health Organization Pandemic status 6 on June 11, 2009, meaning that it is firmly established worldwide. To date, this appears to be are relatively mild influenza strain in the developed world, with nearly 30,000 infections and 144 deaths officially reported in 74 countries. Unlike seasonal influenza outbreaks, which are [...]

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The media got such negative feedback about their “over coverage” of the Swine Flu, that it is hard to find a news report about its status anymore.  But news/media coverage does not mean that an issue is no longer of importance – in fact, it’s probably the time to really take note because the “sexiness” [...]

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I attended my local CT-InfraGard meeting last week where pandemic preparedness planning was discussed with both public and private sector participants. One of the findings from the discussion is that the WHO pandemic rating scheme doesn’t take into consideration the severity of the pandemic – only its geographic spread. Therefore, the WHO is considering revising its rating [...]

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Today I arrived in Buenos Aires and am witnessing first hand the manner in which authorities in this country are responding to incoming visitors from one of the epicenters of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus outbreak: New York City. Stated simply, it’s not a pretty sight.
Passengers trying the disembark from our plane after a very long, eleven-hour flight were stopped by approximately [...]

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While we maintain unqualified sensitivity about all the A (H1N1) induced illnesses and deaths that have already occurred, there is a real possibility we may have to create a new classification of pandemic: “widespread, but not that bad.”
One of the central unsolved mysteries of the current A (H1N1) influenza outbreak is: why have there been [...]

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This post is offered to clarify the WHO declaration the spread of the A (H1N1) virus has now reached Phase 5 and how to indicate how close we might be to an official, WHO-defined pandemic.
Punchline:

Complete your readiness plan gap analysis this week.
Immediately commence filling gaps.

Currently we are at Phase 5

Phase 5 is characterized by [...]

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EVENT: As of approximately 4:00 PM today the following alert was sent around the world:
29 April 2009 — Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director-General raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5.
Dr. Chan also advised: “All countries should immediately [...]

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Gartner analysts Pete Basiliere, Richard DeLotto and Roberta Witty published a new First Take regarding continuity plans for mailing and printing: ‘Swine Flu’ Means Test Transaction Document Recovery Plans Now.

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Yes, many have perfectly adequate response plans for a pandemic. However, if any material amount of spending is required to implement those pandemic response plans in 2009, such needs could easily slip IT actual spending into unfavorable “budget versus actual” territory by fiscal year end.
Prepare the CFO now by documenting the likely expenses that will be required [...]

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