PANDEMIC PLANNING
Plus: Airport Screening • Crime Fighting • Risk Management

COVER STORY
It's Time to Plan
By Mario Possamai

The threat of a pandemic is real, but business planning is lagging. Find out what practices can help your company survive a worldwide influenza incident.

On February 21, 2003, Dr. Liu Jianlun, a specialist in southern China who was treating patients with a baffling new respiratory disease, made a momentous decision. Despite experiencing the flu-like symptoms himself, he opted to visit nearby Hong Kong for a wedding. Dr. Liu checked into Hong Kong’s Metropole hotel, where he unknowingly transmitted his infectious disease to other guests; they, in turn, set off devastating outbreaks in Toronto, Canada; Singapore; and Vietnam. The hotel became ground zero for the 21st century’s first major epidemic, caused by a deadly new virus—later called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

From its epicenter in southern China, SARS went on to infect 8,096 people around the world and kill 774. National and international public-health resources were stretched to the breaking point. For example, in a matter of days, Toronto officials cornered the North American supply of N95 disposable respirators, leaving no room for error if another crisis had erupted. Air travel was curtailed. Econ-omies in the affected countries were crippled and supply chains worldwide were disrupted. Morgan Stanley put the global economic hit at $30 billion. ...

Letters: Congressional attempts to limit the use of pretexting in investigations are debated.

Read Security Management Magazine, September 2008 Online

New Views on Airport Screening
By Joseph Straw
From dual-view to magnetic resonance imaging, numerous evolving technologies are being adapted to security needs for better screening of bags and travelers.

Software Randomizes Airport Patrols
By Joseph Straw
A new software program may help airport patrols become truly random to counter criminal and terrorist surveillance.

State Perspective - Florida
By Joseph Straw
An interview with W. Craig Fugate, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Food Sector Abandons Its ISAC
By Joseph Straw
The food sector group charged with sharing intelligence has disbanded, and the federal government is pushing its own food-sector information-sharing Web portal.

Comments (0)

Name

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Add Comment