Article published Jun 28, 2006
Reprinted courtesy of Fosters Daily Democrat, Dover, NH
By DEREK CUNNINGHAM
Democrat Staff Writer
SOMERSWORTH — A medium-sized company is in the middle of its busy season when a pandemic flu strikes.
A large portion, maybe as high as 30 to 40 percent, of a company's workforce is out sick or caring for ill family members. Their suppliers, too, are experiencing staffing shortages. Companies are having trouble getting stock and costs are going up.
This is a scenario presented by John Stephen, the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, as he spoke about the need for businesses to develop plans should a pandemic flu ever hit America.
Framed around concerns over the avian flu, Stephen and other state health officials are urging businesses to think about and prepare for the consequences an influenza outbreak could have on their operations.
"If you don't have a plan in this type of situation, you lose," he said.
The strain of avian flu that officials are concerned with is not yet easily transmittable by humans, Stephen said. This is one of the prerequisites the World Health Organization lists for a flu virus creating a pandemic. Currently, human infection has occurred primarily with people who have close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, according to information about the disease on the WHO website, as well as Avianflu.gov, a website maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person to person has been limited and has not continued beyond one person," the Avianflu.gov site reads.
The potential for a pandemic centers around the possibility that the flu will mutate and become easier to pass from human to human, said Jason Stull, State Public Health Veterinarian.
"It hasn't happened yet, but that's where the concern is," he said.
In light of the situation, Stull, Stephen and Mary Ann Cooney, the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services spoke at the Great Hill Gallery pushing for businesses to ready themselves for an outbreak.
Businesses, he said, need to be prepared and formulate a contingency plan. The officials advice for issues the plan should cover included potential large scale employee absences, being flexible with sick leave, developing effective communication techniques, finding ways to handle child care issues and people with special needs, and promoting good hygiene practices at work.
Business could cross-train employees to cover different types of jobs in the event of absences, and develop ways for employees to telecommute, said Cooney.
Their plan should include ways to determine what a company's essential services are and who would be able to preform them. They should also provide some mental health services for employees who may be traumatized by the events, she said. They should be in contact with suppliers or other companies they do business with to discuss what plans the supplier has for this event to head off supply problems that may arise.
Stull discussed the need to set up an emergency communication plan and the importance of holding a drill. Companies could help find ways to get employees vaccinated, as well as reevaluating their sick leave policies, he said. They should also encourage sick employees to stay home.
Bestey Parker, of the Northern Strafford County Health And Safety Council, suggested that companies develop childcare options in case school is closed because of the pandemic and parents need to take care of children.
Cooney said the forum at the Great Bay Gallery was their fourth Chamber of Commerce discussion around the state. New Hampshire is "ahead of the curve" with its flu planning, she said after the forum. They have already started with regional discussion and are now putting "meat" into their plans.
The state is divided into 19 "All Hazards" regions to localize community planning and funding, and are overseen by The Pandemic Planning Coordinating Committee. These regions were developed from the state's planning for small pox. Stephen stressed the importance of local and community efforts, saying that although the state can provide technical assistance, it would not be able to help at every step.
"Do not expect the state to be here to assist you every step of the way," he said.
Northern Strafford County Health And Safety Council is one regional organization working on plans for a disaster. They are made up of 55 community partners, including town officials, fire and police departments, Parker said. Some things they are working on include finding locations to distribute the vaccine, educating people through forums such as this one, working on plans for the possibility of isolation and quarantine, and setting up distribution points for supplies such as milk and bread.
The Homemakers Health Service in Somersworth began developing a disaster plan last year, according to Rene Philpott of the company. One of their main actions in a disaster would be to triage their patients by assessing the level of their need. For example, some patients may only require housekeeping services, while other need more extensive help. They will categorize their patients and assign staff depending on the patient's needs.
This year, during their annual planning, they will include discussion specifically on avian flu, Philpott said. An important part of that discussion will be educating staff on how they can prepare individually, such as getting supplies, figuring out family situations, like a meeting place if phone lines go down.
Seacoast Redicenter has no current plan to deal with the possibility of staffing shortages, as they are a small company with 15 employees, said Michael Nye.
They will just "do the best we can to work our way through it," he said. As a health care business, he plans to follow the state and Department of Public Health's lead in the event of a pandemic. Staff training and hygiene are a constant practice at the company, as it is in the health care industry.
For more information, visit New Hampshire resource guide at www.avianflu.nh.gov, information from the federal government at www.pandemicflu.gov, and information from the World Health Organiziation at www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza.