As the mercury and the leaves fall, talk of H1N1 rises, with concern leaping from schools to workplaces and into the realm of travel, meetings and conventions. It”™s pervasive enough that a casual nearby sneeze can feel like a personal attack.
Is there a market for surgical masks emblazoned with business cards? Hardly, say officials, who nonetheless prescribe vigilance.
“A nationwide outbreak will not only impact company staffing levels, but it could cripple an already weakened economy that is just beginning to show signs of recovery, by hindering domestic and international business travel and further impairing consumer spending as wary citizens avoid public places,” said John Challenger, CEO of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas Inc. based in Chicago with offices in Stamford, Conn.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control, there have been more than 9,000 confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu strain reported in the United States so far this year. Local tourism organizations are taking a “use your common sense” stand on the issue.
Kim Sinistore, director of tourism in Westchester County, said to be aware of flu symptoms.
“It”™s important to just be conscious,” said Sinistore. “But it shouldn”™t slow down any travel, business or personal.”
Sinistore said it”™s important to know if you fall within the age and health categories set out as recommended to receive the vaccine.
“Be aware of the guidelines,” said Sinistore.
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Richard J. De Lotto an analyst at research and advisory company, Gartner in Stamford, said enterprises should not overreact to the worldwide swine flu”™ outbreak and the media attention surrounding it.
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“They should take this event as a wake-up call and review and test their pandemic response plans, said De Lotto.
Sinistore said though it”™s a personal choice it”™s important for those traveling to be aware that they are in a new environment and to be proactive about their health.
“Boost the immune system with vitamin C,” said Sinistore. “Some people are prone to getting colds.”
Mary Kay Vrba, director of Dutchess County Tourism said any health issue is a concern to the tourism industry, and care should be taken apart from newly encountered concerns.
Vrba said her organization has already planned to host a seminar with the local health department to speak about prevention measures.
“I think the tourists are aware of the flu season and should take extra care while traveling,” said Vrba. “There are no restrictions on traveling and I would encourage people to continue to travel and know where you are traveling. And practice good hygiene.”
Challenger said that care should be upped for any employer that has recently gone through a downsizing in terms of staffing.
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“Forty percent of absenteeism in a given month could be devastating,” said Challenger. He said those employees who can work from home should be encouraged to do so.
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Susan Hawvermale-Cayea, director of the Orange County Tourism said business must go on and that garden variety flu is a greater threat to people than the swine flu.
“Considering that swine flu victims are quarantined as soon as they are diagnosed, the likelihood of spreading the virus seems to be fairly well contained,” said Hawvermale-Cayea. “Also, the high profile of this disease has made the public better educated about where these outbreaks occur.”
Hawvermale-Cayea said normal precautions for any virus should be practiced, noting swine flu press coverage this past spring did not affect tourism.
“Our festivals are recording more visitors than ever, with the Sugar Loaf Fall Festival having the largest attendance on record,” said Hawvermale-Cayea. “Applefest (in Warwick) on Oct. 4 also reported huge crowds. At this point we’re more worried about bad weather than people staying away from our destinations because of swine flu.”
Hawvermale-Cayea said no one has called the office to ask if there are any reported incidents of the flu. “The few that have been reported in other areas seem more to be isolated incidents than an epidemic,” she said. “If several Manhattanites contracted swine flu, it would hardly keep me from going to a Broadway show, so we are certain that people are not hesitating to visit the Hudson Valley, particularly since we’re not aware of any reported cases. If the Centers for Disease Control cite our region with a major swine flu outbreak, we’ll undoubtedly suffer. Failing that, it’s business as usual here.”
