Organizations Split Over Perceived Threat of Bird Flu Pandemic, Survey Finds
Senior managers are evenly split over whether they consider bird flu as a serious or possible threat to their businesses, according to an international survey designed to gauge whether business are developing contingency plans in anticipation of a pandemic.
Senior managers are evenly split over whether they consider bird flu as a serious or possible threat to their businesses, according to an international survey designed to gauge whether business are developing contingency plans in anticipation of a pandemic.
Fifty-one percent of facility executives responding to an International Facility Management Association survey indicated their senior managers don’t consider bird flu a threat. Forty-nine percent responded saying senior managers consider it a threat. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent, meaning there is no statistical difference in the responses.
The survey also found:
- 83 percent of respondents have a clear understanding or are aware of the possibility of a pandemic
- 7 percent of organizations have pandemic plans implemented while 41 percent are drafting plans. The remaining 52 percent either fell their existing business continuity plan will suffice or have not even considered planning for a pandemic.
- Of those with plans in place or considering plans, 91 percent indicated their response address staffing, 83 percent say facilities were considered and 67 percent addressed security. Other areas addressed in plans include dealing with customers/visitors, vendors and food service.
Avian influenza is a contagious viral infection that can affect all species of birds and occasionally causes disease in humans. The actual number of human cases around the world has been small relative to the number of outbreaks in birds. Although the virus can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections in humans, there has been no evidence of effective human-to-human spread of the infection, and no evidence that a new influenza pandemic is starting
The data for this study was collected using a Web-based questionnaire. An e-mail invitation was sent to 4,251 professional members of International Facility Management Association (IFMA). The invitation included a link where respondents could answer the short survey. A total of 596 surveys were deemed complete. The overall response rate was 15 percent.
Related Topics:
