APEC Business Advisory Council helps businesses prepare for H1N1 flu

An automated checklist now helps businesses to prepare for flu pandemics such as the H1N1 virus.

The APEC Business Advisory has cooperated with the United Nations Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) to prepare a simple online checklist. After answering a series of 26 questions, preparedness levels are rated and respondents receive tips to assist in improving their businesses? ability to cope with the influenza virus.

Apart from the immediate impact on inpidual and community health, pandemics may adversely affect businesses in both the short and long term.

This checklist was developed as a means to assist SMEs to prepare themselves for an influenza pandemic based on the APEC Pandemic Flu Planning Guide for SMEs and the Action Manual for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise, developed by the International Labour Organisation.