The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) in November 2006 released Planning for a Human Flu Pandemic: Emergency Response Guidelines for Foodservice Distributors, available at no cost to all interested parties. The document was crafted to help foodservice distributors—and other members of the foodservice supply channel—plan for the far-reaching effects of a human influenza pandemic. These guidelines were crafted in response to a potential H5N1 Avian flu pandemic, a more virulent form of flu than the current H1N1 strain. Nonetheless, the guidelines provide insights on the impact of a human flu pandemic to distributor operations, customers, employees, and communities.

Planning for a Human Flu Pandemic: Emergency Response Guidelines for Foodservice Distributors
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At the time IFDA published these guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that an H5N1 "Avian" flu pandemic could potentially kill as much as 1% of the world’s population or about 65 million people. In the U.S., the CDC estimated that 90 million people could become infected if an Avian flu pandemic took place, resulting in up to 1.9 million deaths. The current H1N1 "Swine" flu pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization in June 2009, represents a less virulent threat, but as a pandemic will affect a large percentage of the population. In August 2009, the U.S. federal estimated that up to 50% of the U.S. population may be affected.

The background and recommendations included in the guidelines were prepared during brainstorming discussions conducted with foodservice distribution executives from 15 companies, as well as using government data and other published sources. In addition, work completed by the Alex Lee Company in August 2005 served as an important foundation for these foodservice guidelines.

The report is divided into three sections. The “Overview” provides background material describing how a pandemic could occur, why preparedness is critical, and 1) posits reactions that might arise in the community, 2) actions that might be taken by the government, 3) disruptions that could affect the infrastructure, and 4) the potential impact on distribution companies and their customers.

The second and primary section of the guidelines, “Planning for a Pandemic,” defines areas of responsibility and provides checklists for a company to use as a basis to create its own preparedness plan. It covers the range of areas that would need to be addressed internally and externally. These are broken into Task Forces with “Centers of Activity” that describe a wide range of actions—from the founding of an emergency response team to cross-training employees for coverage of critical functions that could be in jeopardy from absenteeism due to illness or death.

A third section includes appendices that provide a medical perspective on this threat and additional resources. Three of these appendices contain information from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. These include a “Historical Perspective” on influenza pandemics, the “Current H5N1 Threat / Vaccine Development,” and “Current Pandemic Planning.” Appendix D supplies a list of additional web accessible resources for information and forms that can be used in creating a preparedness plan.

Planning for a Human Flu Pandemic: Emergency Response Guidelines for Foodservice Distributors can be accessed above through the link next to the document image, or click here.