Measures against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Japanese workplace: Follow-up surveys in large-scale enterprises

Ishimaru, Tomohiro

Wednesday, March 21, 2012: 16:20

Costa Maya 3 (Cancun Center)

Tomohiro Ishimaru, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Takashi Maruyama, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational Environmental And Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Teppei Imai, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University Of Occupational Environmental And Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan

Toshiaki Higashi, Department of Work Systems and Health, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Yoshitaka Miyamura, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Norihide Nishinoue, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Masamichi Uehara, Department of Work Systems and Health, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Koji Wada, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan

Keita Morikane, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yamagata University Hospital, Yamagata, Japan

Ken Takahashi, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Koji Mori, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Handouts

12BBL0~1.pdf (637.4 kB)

Introduction
When Japanese enterprises dealt with the worldwide outbreak of swine-origin influenza (H1N1) in April 2009, many problems surfaced. After the WHO announced that pandemic (H1N1) 2009 had moved into the post-pandemic period in August 2010, Japanese enterprises revised Business Continuation Plans (BCPs) and amended established measures. We surveyed Japanese enterprises’ amendments and problems, and considered measures against future high-pathogenicity avian influenza.

Methods
We surveyed 18 Japanese large-scale enterprises that had participated in our preceding research by questionnaire from November through December 2010. The survey contents included: (1) assessments of measures against pandemic (H1N1) 2009, (2) examples of BCP revisions and amended measures, (3) problems and requests after the post-pandemic period, and (4) preparations for the next pandemic.

Results
Eighty-three percent of Japanese enterprises had assessed and amended their measures after the post-pandemic period. These were assessed as high-quality measures because there were no mass outbreaks becoming obstacles to business continuation. However, many enterprises reflected on excessive measures assuming only high-pathogenicity avian influenza. As a result, Japanese enterprises revised BCPs to enhance usefulness at any pathogenicity level (61%), improve information collection and provision (22%), and improve methods of administration for stocks of necessary supplies (17%). Many enterprises also provided education via the company internet after the post-pandemic period (83%).

Discussion
This survey revealed the current status and problems after the post-pandemic period in Japanese enterprises. Solving these problems requires: (1) providing speedy and useful information such as virus type, pathogen and cancellation point of anti- pandemic measures and (2) providing information about infection situations in other nations. Simultaneously, Japanese enterprises should (1) cooperate with overseas subsidiaries and supply chains and (2) bolster worker’s motivations for infection prevention after the post-pandemic period.

A1458 Measures against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Japanese workplace: Follow-up surveys in large-scale enterprises