The rapid spread of swine flu through Australia and the first cases detected in the South Island have sparked an upsurge in pandemic planning by some Otago businesses.
Foodstuffs South Island Ltd, which has 286 supermarkets and food outlets, has given its 5000 to 6000 staff a "heads up" about the situation in Australia.
General manager retail operations Alan Malcolmson said the company had a group "working on its readiness if the swine flu should progress" and a plan would be finalised before the end of the week. The plan would not be "too dissimilar" to that drawn up for the bird flu scare.
Mr Malcolmson said the measures being encouraged to safeguard staff and customers included an emphasis on hand cleansing and "conditions at checkout".
The company was in contact with health authorities two or three times a day to determine any rise in swine flu risk.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie believed there would be "quite a mixed response" to the swine flu threat.
"You'll go from those businesses that have taken a very serious approach to it through to the other extreme where some will be completely under-prepared and will be waiting, thinking it's not going to happen like the last one didn't."
He considered the businesses of health-care professionals were "pretty well geared up" but that other small businesses would be less well prepared.
"A lot of employers will have current practices that they think will be appropriate."
Otago Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett said his office had "the definitive focus" of people staying at home if they were unwell.
For the association's membership, it was a matter of watching for information from health authorities and acting accordingly "when and if the situation deteriorates".
Cadbury communications manager Daniel Ellis said the company was monitoring the situation closely and telling staff how to protect themselves.
"Our managers at Dunedin have been advised to be aware of any employee who is suffering flu-like symptoms and we are asking anyone who exhibits such symptoms to stay at home until their doctor has medically certified that they are able to return."
Dunedin City Council Civil Defence manager Neil Brown said the council drew up a "corporate pandemic plan" for the bird flu which was reviewed on a "reasonably regular" basis.
"It determines what the critical community functions of council are that must be kept running at all costs."
It also determined which services could be reduced as up to 60% of staff became absent.
The council held stocks of protective equipment for staff such as masks, gloves, alcohol hand cleaners and sprays for workstations.
• The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 requires employers to take all practicable steps to mitigate risk and protect staff from workplace hazards - and because pandemic influenza can be acquired in the workplace it is classified as a hazard.
