New healthcare threat raises continuity concerns

Business continuity experts are being advised to prepare for a growing healthcare threat.

With concerns about the H1N1 strain of influenza now a distant memory, an antibiotic-resistant superbug has surfaced as the most serious current health risk to operations.

The NDM-1 microbiological threat is named after New Delhi where the first cases were identified and experts have warned it could become an international emergency.

It has now been found in the UK and at least two deaths, as well as around 50 infections, have been attributed to the bug, highlighting the need for good infection control and business continuity measures.

An article published in the Lancet suggested that the infection had been introduced to Britain as a result of medical and healthcare tourism, with people opting to have surgery and procedures overseas.

Director of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Co-Author of a study into the bacteria, Dr David Livermore, wrote in the publication: "International travel gives a great potential for spread of resistant bacteria between countries. Few antibiotics remain active against these bacteria."

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization announced that the H1N1 pandemic had come to an end.

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