Businesses girding up for swine flu outbreak
N.S. firms say they?re prepared if large numbers of workers get sick
By TOM PETERS Business Reporter
Sat. Jun 13 - 4:46 AM
A parent and student walk Friday at the Japanese International School in Duesseldorf, Germany, closed due to swine flu. Preparations for an outbreak are underway around the world, including in Nova Scotia. (FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP)
RACING TOWARD A VACCINE
LONDON (AP) ? With swine flu now an official pandemic, the race is on among drugmakers to produce a vaccine.
GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday after the World Health Organization declared a global flu epidemic that it would be ready within weeks to begin large-scale vaccine production. Sanofi-Aventis also said it had started working on its own version. On Friday, Swiss pharma giant Novartis announced it had created an experimental vaccine that has not been tested in people. Novartis? vaccine was made via a cell-based technology that may prove faster than the traditional way of making vaccines, which relies on chicken eggs.
Many rich countries like Britain, Canada and France signed contracts with pharmaceuticals long ago, guaranteeing them access to pandemic vaccine. WHO and others estimate that about 2.4 billion doses of pandemic vaccine could be available in about a year.
The likely scramble for vaccines will leave many people in poorer countries empty-handed.
THE BUSINESS community has been heeding the advice of Nova Scotia?s chief medical officer and making plans to deal with the H1N1 virus if the need arises.
Dr. Robert Strang has urged businesses to have a plan in place if large numbers of workers started booking off sick.
The World Health Organization has elevated the H1N1 flu to Level 6 and has declared the outbreak a pandemic.
Two more cases of the flu were diagnosed in Nova Scotia this week, bringing the total of reported cases in the province to 79.
A number of companies operating in the province said Friday the H1N1 flu has been on their radar for a while and they are ready with plans to meet the challenge.
Janet Creamer, communications manager for the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce, said Friday the chamber has been working on the issue for the past year but moved it to "the front burner" after the flare-up in recent weeks.
"Our plan is for our personal business and more so about policies and what to do if you are feeling sick, like stay home," she said.
The chamber, she says, is following the recommendations of the various health organizations.
The chamber has 15 people in its offices, but staff are in contact with many people because of the numerous events in which they are involved.
"We also have plans and procedures in place where we can all work from home so we are still accessible if the entire office is shut down," she said.
The chamber issues a bi-weekly online newsletter to all its members and has indicated its plans "as well as linked them to places like the Department of Health, Capital Health and tips for pandemic planning and encouraging them to develop their own plans," Ms. Creamer said.
The J.D. Irving Group, which has hundreds of employees in the region, including the Halifax Shipyard, has had H1N1 on its radar for some time.
"There is a senior leadership team that has been engaged since Level 3 was declared," spokeswoman Mary Keith said Friday. "Plans continue to be adapted based on the current situation and risk level."
Marine Atlantic, which operates the ferry service between North Sydney and Newfoundland, has been proactive, says spokeswoman Tara Laing.
"We continue to provide information (to employees) from Health Canada and measures to stay healthy," she said.
Employees are also being provided with information on the proper steps to take if they feel they have come in contact with the virus.
"We continue to work with our medical adviser and have improved our cleaning protocols throughout the organization."
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1127141.html
N.S. firms say they?re prepared if large numbers of workers get sick
By TOM PETERS Business Reporter
Sat. Jun 13 - 4:46 AM
A parent and student walk Friday at the Japanese International School in Duesseldorf, Germany, closed due to swine flu. Preparations for an outbreak are underway around the world, including in Nova Scotia. (FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP)
RACING TOWARD A VACCINE
LONDON (AP) ? With swine flu now an official pandemic, the race is on among drugmakers to produce a vaccine.
GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday after the World Health Organization declared a global flu epidemic that it would be ready within weeks to begin large-scale vaccine production. Sanofi-Aventis also said it had started working on its own version. On Friday, Swiss pharma giant Novartis announced it had created an experimental vaccine that has not been tested in people. Novartis? vaccine was made via a cell-based technology that may prove faster than the traditional way of making vaccines, which relies on chicken eggs.
Many rich countries like Britain, Canada and France signed contracts with pharmaceuticals long ago, guaranteeing them access to pandemic vaccine. WHO and others estimate that about 2.4 billion doses of pandemic vaccine could be available in about a year.
The likely scramble for vaccines will leave many people in poorer countries empty-handed.
THE BUSINESS community has been heeding the advice of Nova Scotia?s chief medical officer and making plans to deal with the H1N1 virus if the need arises.
Dr. Robert Strang has urged businesses to have a plan in place if large numbers of workers started booking off sick.
The World Health Organization has elevated the H1N1 flu to Level 6 and has declared the outbreak a pandemic.
Two more cases of the flu were diagnosed in Nova Scotia this week, bringing the total of reported cases in the province to 79.
A number of companies operating in the province said Friday the H1N1 flu has been on their radar for a while and they are ready with plans to meet the challenge.
Janet Creamer, communications manager for the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce, said Friday the chamber has been working on the issue for the past year but moved it to "the front burner" after the flare-up in recent weeks.
"Our plan is for our personal business and more so about policies and what to do if you are feeling sick, like stay home," she said.
The chamber, she says, is following the recommendations of the various health organizations.
The chamber has 15 people in its offices, but staff are in contact with many people because of the numerous events in which they are involved.
"We also have plans and procedures in place where we can all work from home so we are still accessible if the entire office is shut down," she said.
The chamber issues a bi-weekly online newsletter to all its members and has indicated its plans "as well as linked them to places like the Department of Health, Capital Health and tips for pandemic planning and encouraging them to develop their own plans," Ms. Creamer said.
The J.D. Irving Group, which has hundreds of employees in the region, including the Halifax Shipyard, has had H1N1 on its radar for some time.
"There is a senior leadership team that has been engaged since Level 3 was declared," spokeswoman Mary Keith said Friday. "Plans continue to be adapted based on the current situation and risk level."
Marine Atlantic, which operates the ferry service between North Sydney and Newfoundland, has been proactive, says spokeswoman Tara Laing.
"We continue to provide information (to employees) from Health Canada and measures to stay healthy," she said.
Employees are also being provided with information on the proper steps to take if they feel they have come in contact with the virus.
"We continue to work with our medical adviser and have improved our cleaning protocols throughout the organization."
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1127141.html