Human health emergencies

The widespread availability of modern drugs and medicines has reduced the possibility of a serious epidemic or outbreak of disease, however the risk clearly remains.

The response

The Department of Health is the lead body when dealing with major human health emergencies, they work in collaboration with the National Health Service and other health and social care organisations.

The health of the nation continues to improve but the UK Government is not complacent about the risks that we continue to face.

Human health hazards that remain a concern are an influenza type disease both at an epidemic (wide-spread occurrence of a disease in a certain region) and pandemic (pandemic is something wide spread that can affect an entire country or the whole world) scale, an outbreak of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) type disease, and a localised outbreak of legionella or meningitis.

Influenza pandemic business checklist

In the event of an influenza pandemic, businesses will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to employee’s health and safety as far as possible, as well as maintaining essential operations.

To assist businesses in developing and reviewing plans, the Government has developed a checklist specifically regarding pandemic influenza. It identifies important and specific activities which organisations can do to prepare for a pandemic as well as where more general guidance will be provided by the Government. Directed mainly at medium and large businesses, some elements will be of use to smaller businesses. Further information can be found by clicking here including Guidance on contingency planning for a possible influenza pandemic.

To view the checklist click here

Useful links

For information about influenza and avian flu click here

Click here to find out more about how you can protect yourself and your family from flu

The NHS contingency plans and advice can be found on the Department of Health website