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"Risk Management"
Business falters in face of Bird flu
Only one in three companies have prepared themselves for the risk of an outbreak of a human form of bird flu, a survey has found.
Nearly half those questioned rated the risk posed by the disease to their business as high or extremely high.
Many are taking action to prepare for an epidemic, but the survey by global supply chain specialists State of Flux and European Leaders in Procurement found just 34 per cent had bird flu risk management plans in place. Even among those who said the threat was extreme, more than a third still had no such plans in place.
Findings from the survey suggest that over-hyped attention followed by a subsequent media drop-off lulled people into thinking that the risks had passed.
The survey also showed what media outlets were the most trusted, with executives highlighting the press and television as the most reliable. Only half as many said they trusted information from the government.
The survey, which covered large companies across Europe and the US, revealed that more than two-thirds had outsourced operations in south-east Asia where bird flu originated.
Experts fear an outbreak of a human form of the disease could cause major disruption to business because of staff illnesses or absence. Businesses with supply chains in Europe and Asia may be particularly vulnerable.
The findings come amid continuing fears that new mutations could raise the risk of the virus being passed to humans.
State of Flux director Alan Day said: “Some companies are taking action to minimise the risk, but it still seems that there are many who are not doing enough.
“The risk to businesses and their supply chains is still very real and people need to make sure they are fully prepared for a potential outbreak.”
Millions of birds have died or been destroyed as a result of outbreaks in dozens of countries since the H5N1 strain emerged in South-East Asia in 2003 before spreading to Europe and Africa.
The number of cases among humans is also rising, with the death toll passing 100. A cluster of deaths in Indonesia in May sparked fears that the virus might now be being transmitted between humans, although the World Health Organisation has since declared there is no evidence of sustained spread between people. The main concern is that each new human case increases the chances of a “human” mutation.
Finally, the survey showed that only one in five companies had consulted specialists in risk prevention. Fewer than half said they were assessing the risk of the disease, and 40 per cent said they were working out action to minimise its potential impact. Nearly half said they did not know if their suppliers had risk management plans in place.
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