The potential worldwide spread of avian influenza virus H5N1 has alarmed medical authorities that an influenza pandemic may be coming. Such a pandemic would push health-care resources to their limits.

Most Canadian organizations are concerned about the effects of a pandemic, but few have prepared adequately detailed plans.

This report introduces the types of influenza and outlines several illness crises over the last century. It lists sources of information on how to prepare (including the Canadian government’s new pandemic website) and aspects of operations that organizations should deal with in their preparedness plans.

Detail is provided on how employers are dealing with employees stationed outside Canada, reducing the spread of disease (and fear) in the workplace, enabling business continuity in the face of employee absenteeism and quarantines, and compensating employees affected by the pandemic. The report concludes with a preparedness checklist.