Swine Flu Pandemic

[Hath]

Dont' know who's been watching the news recently, but there's a pandemic threatening with this swine flu. I've spent the last three hours in closed-door meetings with the higher-ups plotting out the (grisly, grusome, depressing) permutations of what could happen should things go wrong.

I heard today that NYC is closing down some schools, as they had a case pop up there. We're gearing up for worst-case scenario.

So, in case you want to keep up, in response to the latest developments surrounding the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States, International SOS has launched a special website that has the latest information and travel advice for your international business travelers, expatriates and other globally-mobile workforce. On this web-site you'll find the:

Latest information on the outbreaks
Latest travel advice
FAQs: Such as "Should I travel to Mexico or the US?" "An employee has just returned from Mexico. Should they return to work?" "Should an employee take antiviral medication (Tamiflu) with them when traveling to Mexico?"


Additional resources:
www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

[Kris]

Thanks for the links Hath. They have the first case in Spain, that guy came back from Mexico a couple days ago and also three cases here in Germany. Two are off the hook they say. The last one is still waiting for the test results. They all have been in Mexico last week.

I heard the cases in NYC are 8 students from a private school.

[mysterytrain]

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on things Hath. I hadn't really heard too much about it until today. I haven't been paying attention to the news so much these last few days. Thanks again for the update on the info.

[joviswoman]

We've been told we've got two cases, but they're mild.

I'm praying someone gets a handle on this soon.

Keep safe my friends

[mysterytrain]

Sadly, there was the death of a little boy from Mexico today in Texas from this.

The WHO raised the pandemic threat level today to 5. They said that they were relaying information as they see it and do not want to start a panic.

They raised the level on the information that they have so there can be increased production of Tamiflu and other medications to be made available and countries can prepare for an increase in flu cases to deal with the health crisis of it. They are wanting to stay ahead of the spread of this flu pandemic if it is possible.

[Hath]

For us, Phase 5 means we start hibernating functions, cutting back staff, and sending people home. We probably won't do that until and unless we get cases in the Boston area. However, people are skittish whenever anyone sneezes. It'll be an interesting study in self-preservation over the next few days; to see what people do.

[Queenie]

Thanks for the info Hath. We've got seven suspected cases here. Six people traveled to Mexico and one to NYC. This should be interesting.