Continuity Forum - News

Formal Pandemic announced ... but how well are organisations prepared?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:40:01 +0200

Pandemic Alert

Category Business Continuity Management research - BCM - BCM & Risk Management - A(H1N1) - General - Health - article - advice

 
Swine Flu (H1N1) status change to Pandemic (Level 6)… amidst general business apathy.

11 June 2009

The World Health Organisation has increased the alert level for A(H1N1) or Swine Flu to a level 6 Pandemic alert.

This Pandemic Alert, the first for 40 years, confirms that the H1N1 virus is now maintaining sustained human to human infection in at least two geographic areas. With outbreaks as far apart as Australia and Europe, the upgrade to alert level 6 Pandemic is no surprise as the formal announcement is linked to a confirmation of wide geographic spread rather than any specific increase in the severity of infections.

A(H1N1) initial research suggests parallels with 1957 Pandemic

Tue, 12 May 2009 09:23:11 +0200

Continuity Forum Pandemic wanes?

Category Business Continuity Management research - BCM - BCM & Risk Management - A(H1N1) - General - Health - article - advice

 
Media criticise health organisations, but threat continues to develop

As Swine Flu starts to slide down the news agenda, some are already declaring that the worst is over and it was an overreaction. Indeed nearly half of people in the US think the media exaggerated the threat, mirroring the view in the UK.

A(H1N1) threat needs careful balance - Continuity Forum

Tue, 05 May 2009 11:31:19 +0200

Continuity Forum Pandemic advice

Category Business Continuity Management research - BCM - BCM & Risk Management - General

 
Continuity Forum urges organisations not to be complacent

5th May 2009

Swine Flu, or A(H1N1) as the World Health Organisation would prefer it called continues to dominate the news media internationally, with nearly 1100 cases in 21 countries now reported with 27 fatalities. Governments plans and Tamiflu intervention appears to be working and the symptoms are being described as Mild. This appears to be good news and in the last few days accusations are being levelled of the whole Pandemic scenario being hyped out of all proportion. Radio phone-in's and media commentators articles are suggesting an over reaction by WHO, governments and the media in the face of what they describe as a relatively 'minor' Health scare.

Who upgrades Alert level again ... what next?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:22:32 +0200

Continuity Forum Pandemic advice

Category Business Continuity Management research - BCM - BCM & Risk Management - General

Current level of influenza pandemic alert raised from phase 4 to 5 

29 April 2009

Following discussions and further assessment of all currently available information, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO's Director-General has raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5.

URGENT - Status check on Pandemic Planning

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:27:07 +0200

Continuity Forum Pandemic Research Q2/2009

Category Business Continuity Management research - BCM - BCM & Risk Management - General

Continuity Forum Pandemic preparedness research

The Continuity Forum is developing detailed information on the general preparedness of organisations for the potential impact of a 'Flu Pandemic.

We are particularly interested in any specific planning you may have in place and whether or not your organisation has updated its BCM planning.

Your answers are confidential and no specific organisation will be identified through our research. We respect both your individual and organisations rights and once compiled the source data wll be destroyed.

The final summaries of our findings will give us excellent insight into the type and level of planning in place for a potential pandemic and this will be available to members, government and business.

We hope that you will be able to spend a few minutes to complete the survey and we would encourage you to share it with as many colleagues as possible.

Please remember that this survey is completely confidential and even our analysts will have no information identifying you directly.

The Summary research will be available from the Continuity Forum Website regularly so do please register on the site to receive automatic notification when these are released.

If you have any questions or would prefer to speak with us in person please contact us directly on 020 8993 1599.

Finally, please DO pass this survey on to colleagues (or any others involved in your pandemic planning or BCM process).

START PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS RESEARCH

WHO raises threat level

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:52:20 +0200

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - Flu Support and Advice - Continuity Forum - Swine Flu - H1N1

April 28th

Useful Resources for Swine Flu (H1N1)

In an important step the World Health Organisation has raised the Pandemic Alert status to level 4.

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Swine Flu infections increase - Mexico

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:00:53 +0200

Category Business Continuity Pandemic

Mexico City battles to contain outbreak

UK monitoring swine flu outbreak closely

Health officials in the UK say they are closely monitoring the deadly outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the US, amid fears of a potential pandemic.

UK Health experts are closely monitoring the developing Swine Flu situation in Mexico City. Deaths from the outbreak of the are rising rapidly with so far up 81 reported dead from pneumonia associated with the infection of the flu virus.

Mexican Swine Flu outbreak causes alarm

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:25:28 +0200

Category Business Continuity Pandemic and Research

Is Flu threat changing?

Mexican officials and international experts are studying an outbreak of of Swine Influenza that has emerged in Mexico and which is suspected of killing up to 60 in the past month.

International Experts for the World Health Organisation and the US Centre for Disease Control are suggesting the outbreak in Mexico may be connected to a further 8 cases in the USA. It is suspected the virus may also have infect over 900 and the Mexican government has already moved closing public buildings and suspending public events to try and limit the spread of infection.

WHO backs investigation into Bird Flu situation in Egypt

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:59:58 +0200

Category Business Continuity Pandemic and Research

Is Bird Flu threat changing?

Following an increase in infection rates and what appears to be a change in the pattern in Egypt the World Health Organisation is backing more detailed investigation

In Egypt the World Health Organisation is backing further examination and investigation as the numbers contracting the disease rise and and the pattern of infection change. At first sight the changes appear to be good news with all of those infected in the country have survived pointing to a reduction in the virulence of the H5N1, but clinically this change could be bad news.

G20 disruptions ... security advice for Business

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:27:17 +0100

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - News - Business Continuity - Advice - Security - Continuity Forum

G20 security advice for businesses from the Met and City Police

The G20 London Summit will take place at the ExCel Centre, Newham, on 2 April 2009.
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is hosting the event. World leaders, including Barack Obama, will attend – currently around 38 protected delegations are expected to attend.

The G20 summit is the focus of a whole number of events, marches and protests planned for the week - starting on Saturday 28 March with a TUC March.

New Security and Counter Terrorism programme announced

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:37:31 +0100

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - News - Research - Advice - Terrorism - Continuity Forum

Government enhances Counter Terrorism measures - CONTEST 2

The government has set out its enhanced strategy to combat the threat of Terrorism; known as CONTEST the policy shows the context and threat as well as the process adopted to counter the threat.

The briefing illustrates how terrorism has evolved in the UK and explains what led to the emergence of the threat we face today. It also examines how the threat may evolve over the next few years.

The strategy sets out the principles that form the basis of the government’s response to terrorism. These include keeping human rights at the heart of all the counter-terrorism work in this country and overseas. It also emphasises the need to address the longer term roots of terrorism, as well as its actions.

Business Continuity for extreme weather events

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:32:16 +0100

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - EVENT - Management - Advice - Continuity Forum

Four Season Conference from the EPS

Spring Floods - Summer Heatwaves - Autumn Storms - Winter Extreme Cold

The EPS London Branch and BCI London Forum are hosting the Four Seasons Conference at the London Phoenix Centre on 26th March 2009.

The event will focus on business continuity for extreme weather events and changes to the likelihood and impacts of such events as a result of climate change. As such it will also be of particular relevance to emergency planning and risk management practitioners.

Crisis Management Workshop

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:19:23 +0100

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - EVENT - Crisis Management Seminar - Advice

Crisis Management Seminar

We are continuing this very popular and successful Event series and this half day event will discuss topics such as Managing your People and Crisis Communications. We are delighted to bring a significant Case Study from a leading British organisation, illustrating their approach to Crisis Management, including lessons learned from various crises.

We will also be discussing the latest developments in business continuity, risk management and will include recently updated information on market developments .

BSI formally annouces BS25777 for ICT Continuity

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:30:46 +0100

Category Business Continuity ICT

BSI British Standards publishes BS 25777 for Information and Communications Technology continuity management.

Following on from the development of BS25999 BSI has announced a complimentary standard aimed at detailing good practice at the ICT level, BS25777 for ICT Continuity.

ICT continuity management, a key part of the overall business continuity management (BCM) process of an organization, ensures that ICT services are resilient and in the event of disaster, can be recovered within timescales agreed with senior management. BS 25777 provides recommendations for implementing effective ICT continuity within the wider framework of Business Continuity Management (provided in BS 25999 Business Continuity Management).

UK Whiteout - SMB’s need better Business Continuity Planning

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:59:50 +0100

Category Business Continuity SMB

With SMB's facing severe disruption the Continuity Forum asks is it always someone elses fault?

As business struggles in the face of economic recession, heavy snowfall across the UK has added to their woes, but also highlights the lack of Business Continuity Planning in most businesses. Despite the warnings of likely disruptions given by authorities, many firms and organisations ground to a halt, and staff struggled to cope with transport system cancellation and the closure of many schools.