The threat of a bird flu pandemic is building up day-by-day. Not only will the healthcare industry be hit hard, healthcare workers too will have to decide what to do if they fall ill themselves. Revere at Effect Measure, one of the leading commentators in the blogosphere on avian influenza, has these suggestions for how workplaces should deal with a bird flu pandemic:

• Set in place “continuity of operations” plans that would allow them to stay operating with a reduced workforce.
• Figure out in advance the most important people and prepare others to fill in.
• Have a permissive sick leave policy.

For healthcare professionals that have frontline duties caring for patients, it may not be such an easy decision to take sick leave. For those who can telecommute from home, however, hopefully they will be able to keep the cogs of the healthcare system turning in the event of a pandemic.