Swine Flu And The Lawyers

Swine Flu And The Lawyers

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The Government has wide powers under the Health Act, while one firm stockpiles Tamiflu

The swine flu emergency has created a raft of employment and other issues for lawyers to deal with, but what are law firms themselves doing to face the first pandemic in 40 years?

One international firm, Allen & Overy, has reportedly acquired enough of the anti-viral Tamiflu to treat 5000 of its staff.

Allen & Overy has enough of the drug to treat its workforce, across 31 major centres, and is holding the drugs locally across its global network through third-party medical providers, with the exception of jurisdictions where local regulations restrict such a policy.

A spokesperson for the firm said: "This provision forms part of our business continuity planning, which includes a number of different contingency plans and measures to ensure we are as prepared as we can be for all eventualities that could impact our operations.

"Since the issue of swine flu emerged we have kept our people informed of the latest advice and guidance from the WHO and other organisations and issued updates to them as and when appropriate as the situation developed globally."

The disease has so far been confirmed in more than 27,000 cases worldwide - including 822 cases in the UK and now over 100 in New Zealand, though the strain has so far proved less severe than initially feared.

Because swine flu has been added to the lists of notifiable and quarantinable diseases under the Health Act, it permits the Prime Minister to issue a notice under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 if the outbreak’s effects are likely to significantly disrupt essential governmental and business activity.

The notification gives Medical Officers of Health wide-ranging legal powers if needed, to require people to isolate themselves at home and to exclude children and teachers from school, if they have swine flu or are in close contact with someone with swine flu.

Meanwhile, fellow law firm Lovells has revealed its Hong Kong office had been affected by the disease after an attendee to a local student day tested positive for the flu strain.
The firm's office was cleaned after local health authorities were contacted and staff members involved have been quarantined. One staff member has subsequently fallen ill with the virus.

ENDS

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