Singapore launched on Tuesday a program to help businesses remain undisrupted in times of a possible flu pandemic.

The Flu Pandemic Business Continuity Program targets to help at least 1,000 companies become flu pandemic prepared by the end of 2010.

It is part of a 30 million Singapore dollars (US$20.98 million) National Business Continuity Management Program announced last year.

Singapore's Minister for State for Trade and Industry and Manpower Lee Yi Shyan said that it can be very costly for companies when a flu pandemic strikes. He said that supplies may be disrupted and critical employees may be affected, forcing business operations to come to a standstill without adequate preparations.

The program ensures that the business continuity measures which participating companies have put in place are comprehensive and effective. This is done through third party verification, by certification bodies accredited by the Singapore government.

It will also serve as a stepping stone towards a more comprehensive Business Continuity Management implementation that would address other disruptions to the operations of an organization, including terrorism, natural disasters or even an IT network disruption.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 300,000 cases of H1N1 have been reported throughout the world, and close to 4,000 people have died from the virus.

Singapore reported its first confirmed case of flu A/H1N1 on May 27. The country has reported 18 A/H1N1 related death cases.

(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2009)