Pandemic Influenza: Implications for Occupational Medicine
Abstract
This
article reviews the biological and occupational medicine literature
related to H5N1 pandemic influenza and its impact on infection
control, cost and business continuity in settings outside the health
care community. The literature on H5N1 biology is reviewed including
the treatment and infection control mechanisms as they pertain to
occupational medicine. Planning activity for the potential arrival of
pandemic avian influenza is growing rapidly. Much has been published
on the molecular biology of H5N1 but there remains a paucity of
literature on the occupational medicine impacts to organizations.
This review summarizes some of the basic science surrounding H5N1
influenza and raises some key concerns in pandemic planning for the
occupational medicine professional. Workplaces other than health care
settings will be impacted greatly by an H5N1 pandemic and the
occupational physician will play an essential role in corporate
preparation, response, and business continuity strategies.
The full article is available free at: http://www.occup-med.com/content/pdf/1745-6673-4-15.pdf
W.
Shane Journeay*(1) and Matthew D. Burnstein (2)
1 Dalhousie
Medical School, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine, Halifax,
Nova Scotia,
B3H 4H7 Canada
2 Bell-Aliant
Health & Wellness Division, 1505 Barrington Street,Halifax,
Nova Scotia, B3J 3K5 Canada
E-mail:
*W.
Shane Journeay: shane.journeay@dal.ca
Matthew
D. Burnstein: matthew.burnstein@aliant.ca
|