Corporate Event Thoughts: Swine Flu Outbreak Impacts Events

Corporate Event Thoughts

Swine Flu Outbreak Impacts Events

Is the current crisis gripping the meetings and events industry for real, or will it simply be something that lures us into a false sense of security for when the real deal does hit, because, eventually, we will have a global bio crisis. One can only hope that the next global pandemic is not as severe as some of the past events that have happened....

One thing is clear, Mexico is taking the brunt of the hit (so far) and this is something that they cannot afford at the moment (also add an earthquake this morning on top of violence, a bad economy and a possible pandemic).

Here is a little from Serenity's latest article on PlannerWire.............

Scheduled meetings and events are already dropping off the calendar in response to multiple (and multiplying) reports detailing rapid worldwide developments of an outbreak of swine influenza A, or H1N1. The outbreak originated in areas of Mexico, including Mexico City, Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi, and it has spread into various parts of the United States and Canada, along with a few reported cases in other nations. In response, fears about the potential for a pandemic flu are already aswirl across the World Wide Web.

On Saturday, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated, “The current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.” On Sunday, WHO confirmed 20 cases of swine flu found in the United States and 18 in Mexico.

Early today, the first European case appeared in Spain, prompting the European Union’s Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou to caution travelers against visiting the United States and Mexico “unless they have serious reasons to go.” This afternoon, the WHO’s count of United States swine flu cases doubled to 40.

Click Here to Read Full Article

Posted by Keith Johnston at 4/27/2009 2:06 PM

Categories: Global Meeting Crisis,Event Thoughts
Tags: Meeting Alerts Event Planning Travel Alerts

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4/28/2009 2:34 PM Sarah wrote:
The swine flu is definitely something for planners to be concerned with when it comes to attendee safety (I think over 100 deaths possibly tied to it in Mexico alone?), but at the same time I wonder how much it's being blown out of proportion. I liked a recent CNN article that quoted several level-headed travelers who don't seem nervous about travel south of the border. http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/04/27/swine.flu.travel/index.html

Still, when all is said and done, Mexico is still going to have that much tougher of a time thanks to the explosive media coverage.
Reply to this
1. 4/28/2009 2:46 PM Keith Johnston wrote:
  I wondered myself and think that it may be getting a little blown out of proportion, the average amount of deaths per year from "regular" flu is about 24,000- 36,000. A bit higher than the 150 or so that are now reported from the current outbreak of swine flu (please don't get me wrong, even 1 death is tragic).
  
  That being said, I am still planning to be on program in June, in Mexico........
  
  Now, if this turns into a true pandemic.........we have a totally different animal.
  
  Reply to this