Sep 9, 2009
Harvard survey finds business preparedness gaps
Only one third of businesses responding to a national survey said they could sustain operations if half their employees were absent for 2 weeks because of pandemic H1N1 flu, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reported today. Though 74% offer sick leave, only 35% of businesses allow paid leave for taking care of sick family members. The report's lead author advised businesses to start making continuity and disease-prevention plans now.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2009-releases/businesses-problems-maintaining-operations-significant-h1n1-flu-outbreak.html
Sep 9 Harvard School of Public Health press release
Alabama reports rising school absence rates
Alabama's school absence rates have doubled over the past few weeks, though officials aren't able to determine how much of the rise is related to novel flu, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Dr Don Williamson, the state's health officer, said emergency departments are reporting that 20% of patients have flu-like illnesses. He attributes the rise in pandemic flu cases to schools resuming and said the virus has been detected at most of Alabama's colleges.
WHO urges Southeast Asian countries to prepare
A World Health Organization (WHO) official speaking to health ministers from 11 Southeast Asian nations today urged the region to prepare for another wave of pandemic flu cases as the northern hemisphere moves closer to its winter season, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The WHO told the group meeting in Kathmandu that although the virus has yet to take a big toll in Asia, hospitals should prepare for a surge of severe cases.
Egypt orders 5 million vaccine doses
Egypt's health ministry said in a Saudi News Agency report that the country has ordered 5 million doses of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine and expects to receive the first delivery in October, Dow Jones news reported yesterday. The story did not say what company was under contract to produce vaccine for Egypt. According to a Sep 5 update from the WHO's eastern Mediterranean office, Egypt has confirmed 727 novel H1N1 cases, including 1 death.
