Pandemic flu
A pandemic is a widespread epidemic of a disease involving many regions or countries.

Influenza pandemics may occur when a new strain of influenza emerges in a human population, which has had no previous exposure to that virus. The new virus spreads easily because there is little, or no, existing immunity.  Even in situations where the virus causes only mild symptoms, its rapid spread has the potential to cause extensive disruption through the sheer numbers involved.

Three influenza pandemics have occurred in the 20th century – in 1918, 1957 and in 1968. The 1918 pandemic was by far the most lethal killing an estimated 50 million people.

While influenza pandemics of varying severity are believed to have occurred roughly three times each century since the 1600s, it is impossible to predict exactly when the next serious pandemic may occur.
The current circulating influenza A (H1N1), referred to as ‘Swine flu’, was first reported from Mexico in April 2009 and is thought to have resulted from a reassortment of four known strains of influenza A in pigs. Most deaths have occurred in young adults.

Pandemic Preparedness
Preparing any organisation for a pandemic may be difficult. 
The problems arise from the uncertainty of predicting the timing of the next pandemic, the limited resources which are available for adequate planning and other more urgent priorities within each business.

Various experts predict an infection rate of about 30% for your workforce and, therefore, to avoid severe disruption to your business, a Pandemic Preparedness Plan is a wise precaution.

There are several steps a business can take to ensure continuity of operation or, at least, to minimise any disruption.
First, ensuring a supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks and respirators, sufficient to protect key or ‘at risk’ personnel over a period of up to six months.
Second, a supply of antiviral drugs should be readily available for the treatment of management and staff, once infection is detected within the business.  (History has demonstrated the unreliability of supplies of antivirals from local pharmacies or from government distribution centres during a pandemic.) ProVax has an Antiviral Medication Stockpile Service, which overcomes these problems and is designed to provide supplies of antivirals to business, when needed.
Third, vaccination will remain the mainstay of preparedness for any business. Specific vaccines against the circulating pandemic influenza, should they be available, offer the greatest protection. Vaccines offered against seasonal influenza have been shown to reduce absenteeism and assist in differentiating the strains of circulating influenza.

Unlike seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza does not have a ready-made vaccine available for immediate use.

When will a vaccine become available?
Because Influenza A(H1N1)v, or ‘Swine Flu’, is a completely new strain of influenza virus, the currently available seasonal vaccine is not expected to provide significant protection against this strain. Pandemic vaccines have to be prepared from scratch and delays in production are to be expected. The well-publicised problems with developing, testing and approving of the current ‘swine flu’ vaccine are a case in point.

Testing for H1N1 vaccines (containing the A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v- like virus) has begun in several countries. In Australia, CSL has been testing its vaccine on 240 individuals over seven months, while Vaxine is testing 300 adults.

TGA approval for the marketing of these vaccines is expected during September 2009, but their availability for commercial use is uncertain.