The threat of pandemic flu
The World Health Organisation (WHO1) has warned that the world faces an outbreak of pandemic flu. During the last century there were three pandemics, the last being in 1968. Pandemic flu spreads rapidly to affect most countries and regions in the world, and during past pandemics attack rates reached 25-35 percent of the population.
How can you protect your company?
It is likely that one in four people may become ill at some point during a pandemic. A pandemic flu outbreak is therefore likely to cause significant disruption to your company.
With effective planning you can minimise the impact an outbreak will have on absenteeism, loss of productivity and ultimately the bottom line.
Act now by preparing your company with a contingency plan.
How can BUPA help?
Anti-viral treatment can prevent the virus spreading
Pricing structure
Frequently asked questions
Contact us
How can BUPA help?
BUPA Wellness can help protect your company against the effects that pandemic flu may cause by providing anti-viral treatment (e.g oseltamivir) to your employees to help minimise the effects of the illness in the workplace.
In a pandemic, there is likely to be widespread disruption so getting treatments to the person who needs it at the right time may prove difficult. It is therefore important that companies have a business contingency plan for when it happens, and arrange for sufficient treatment early on to cover as many employees as possible. This is where BUPA can help.
We can help by:
- providing a guide to business planning for pandemic flu
- offering information about reducing the risk of transmission of the illness within your business
- ordering and storing the anti-viral drug on your company's behalf
- supplying designs for infection control posters for your offices
You will need to decide whether all staff members should be eligible for treatment or only key personnel. This will affect the number of treatments you may wish to order.
Anti-viral treatment can prevent the virus spreading
Anti-viral treatments can help prevent the influenza virus from spreading inside the body and so help to ease the symptoms and eradicate the influenza virus infection.
It can be used in two ways:
- as a treatment for a pandemic flu infection when it is likely to lessen the severity and duration of symptoms
- to reduce the risk of infection after high risk exposure to the pandemic flu virus
Anti-viral treatments can only be prescribed by a doctor or by an authorised and trained nurse and only at the time of a pandemic flu outbreak. And as a prescription drug, it cannot be kept on premises that are not under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
Pricing structure
Find out how BUPA can help
Call 0845 6010 420 or email pandemicflu@bupa.com.
Frequently asked questions
How does pandemic flu relate to bird or avian flu?
The currently heightened risk of pandemic flu comes from the increasing spread of the avian flu virus, which is usually found only in birds. It is thought that all previous pandemics have arisen from changes in the avian flu virus, making it more likely to infect humans. Though currently relatively rare, there have been some instances of the virus passing from person to person.
If the virus changes, this could result in a new, lethal flu virus that could spread from person to person. If this happens, people will have very limited immunity to such a virus, allowing it to spread widely, potentially around the world. This is referred to as pandemic flu. While neither the timing nor the severity of the next pandemic can be predicted, the probability that a pandemic will occur has increased (WHO1).
What is the difference between seasonal flu and pandemic flu?
According to the WHO1 the main differences between seasonal flu and pandemic flu are summarised below:
| Seasonal flu |
Pandemic flu |
| Occurs every year during the winter. |
There were three pandemics last century. A pandemic occurs sporadically at any time of the year. |
| Affects up to one in 10 of the population. |
May affect around one in four of the population. |
| For most people it is an unpleasant but not life-threatening infection. |
It could be a more serious infection for everyone. |
| The very young, very old and those with certain chronic illnesses are the most at risk. |
People of any age may be at risk of serious illness. |
| An annual vaccination is available. |
There is currently no vaccination available but an antiviral drug can be used for the treatment of pandemic flu. |
How is pandemic flu spread?
The virus is easily passed from person to person and an infected person can pass it on when they talk, cough or sneeze. It can also spread through hand and/or face contact after touching a person or surface contaminated with the virus (Department of Health2).
What are the phases of a pandemic?
The phases of pandemic flu, as defined by the WHO1, describe the increasing public health risk associated with a pandemic threat. The table below shows the different phases that the WHO1 predicts will take place.
| Stages |
Description |
Phases |
| Interpandemic phase |
Low risk human cases |
1 |
| New virus in animals, no human cases |
Higher risk of human cases |
2 |
| Pandemic alert |
No or very limited human-to-human transmission |
3 (current status) |
| New virus causes human cases |
Evidence of increased human-to-human transmission |
4 |
| |
Evidence of significant human-to-human transmission |
5 |
| Pandemic |
Efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission |
6 |
Contact us
For more information on pandemic flu and how BUPA can help minimise the impact on your organisation, call us now on 0845 6010 420 or contact your account manager or intermediary.
Alternatively email the flu team at pandemicflu@bupa.com.
Sources:
1. World Health Organisation 2006
www.who.int
2. Department of Health 2006
www.dh.gov.uk
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