Swine Flu, the Sequel

Global Connections

In a previous blog entry, I wrote about swine flu motivating small businesses to consider telecommuting options, for employees for whom this arrangement is feasible. This could both slow the spread of the illness, by keeping people out of crowded workplaces and public transport, and allow employees to stay home and care for their infected loved ones, where necessary. Establishing procedures for working from remote operations, such as data storage and network security, is critical for all types of disasters, from fires to civil emergencies. And now there is another reason to look into telecommuting. While the swine flu appears to have slowed down its rate of new infections, it may be poised for a second wave of infections in six months’ time.

I remember reading the book about the influenza epidemic of 1918 (when you work in the reinsurance industry, you focus on many cheerful topics). One-fifth of the world population was ultimately infected with the flu, but this damage was inflicted largely in a second round of the virus, six months after the first one. And with the travel patterns in our global economy, an epidemic in this era would become a pandemic more readily.  Public health officials are now predicting that history might repeat itself and we should prepare for a second outbreak in the winter. Doctors report that the warm temperature of the summer months is not conducive to spreading the virus; the next threat will likely occur in the winter months. So let’s take advantage of what may be a six-month reprieve to prepare our small businesses for temporary remote operations and know that the effort will pay off, irrespective of what happens with the flu.