KI sets up strategy plan for dealing with possible pandemic

The new influenza virus A (H1N1) brings to light how important it is to be prepared for a possible pandemic. The president of KI has therefore assigned a task force to submit proposals for a strategy plan of measures that will have to be taken should such a situation arise. If the healthcare service finds itself overloaded, it might have an adverse impact on the training and research conducted at Karolinska Institutet, which is why such a scenario should be taken into serious consideration.

Main areas of the strategy plan

Examples of areas to be dealt with in the strategy plan are how the spread of infection within Karolinska Institutet can be prevented or minimised, how teaching can be maintained even if many teachers fall ill at the same time, and which key functions will have to be staffed for activities to continue. The strategy plan is also to include proposals for how to keep people informed.

The task force comprises:

- Professor Jan Albert, KI and Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control

- Professor Sari Ponzer, Dean of Higher Education

- Ylva Lindberg, Human Resources Director

- Susanne Rådström, Information Officer

- Annika Sjöborg, Head of Security

The task force is to present its strategy plan to the KI president on 15 September. The president has also asked the group to continue monitoring developments.