Annapolis, Maryland - November 28, 2005 - iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of enterprise risk management technology and integrated crisis response services, is advising multinational corporations to prepare for an Avian Flu pandemic. Businesses need to be aware of the threat of a pandemic and should have plans in place to react immediately if the disease becomes transmissible among humans.

World Health Officials predict that recent outbreaks may have marked the beginning of a new wave of bird flu in both previously affected and new geographic locales, and research is showing that the virus may be closer to developing the capability to spread from human to human. Health officials are also concerned that migratory birds could carry the virus to East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, where there are insufficient resources for detecting and containing outbreaks of disease.

All companies, particularly those operating in the highest-risk locations, should have evacuation and pandemic plans in place. Even suspected infections can have detrimental effects on business operations. Historic pandemic data and current studies of the Avian Flu indicate that once person-to-person transmission begins, the virus could infect a large portion of the world's population within three months, leading to large-scale absenteeism throughout the workforce and loss in productivity.

iJET began advising clients in early 2004 on concerns for an Avian Flu pandemic, and recently issued the third in a series of special reports on the subject. The report outlines recent developments and outbreaks, assumptions for business planning, high-risk areas, preparations currently in progress and implications for the future. The report also summarizes recommended steps for corporations as they begin to develop plans for a pandemic.

Suggested steps include:

• Create a decision making-group
• Educate employees about influenza and the risks of a pandemic
• Develop contingency plans to ensure key employees can continue work
• Institute communications methods to maintain contact with employees abroad
• Examine supply chain to identify potential points of failure in business continuity
• Establish a vaccination plan (even if vaccine is not immediately available)
• Establish evacuation plans for personnel in areas of high risk
• Test methods proposed to support operations in the event of a pandemic

Corporations that will survive a pandemic are those that carefully monitor the situation, build a preparedness plan and develop the ability for flexible response.




iJET Intelligent Risk Systems is a leader in business resiliency, helping multinational corporations and government organizations monitor, protect against and respond to global threats. Integrating world-class open source intelligence with patented technology, iJET’s award-winning Worldcue^® solutions help clients monitor and assess global threats relative to their key people, facilities and supply chain assets; automatically track and communicate with travelers and expatriates; and deploy emergency response services throughout the world at a moment's notice. Providing a unified view of threats to assets, iJET enables clients to mitigate risks, reduce corporate liability and prepare for and respond to business disruptions.

iJET, Worldcue, and Travel Intelligence are registered trademarks owned by iJET. All rights reserved. © 2008 iJET International, Inc.

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