The Yukon's planning for the possible future outbreak of a pandemic will have a focus on minimizing the effects on the economy.

'The biggest possible impact of a pandemic is actually the impact of workplace absenteeism on the economy,' Health Minister Brad Cathers told the Star.

Cathers recently returned from a national health ministers' conference in Toronto. Much of the meeting focused on discussing Canada's preparedness for the possibility of a pandemic, said Cathers.

Many scientists believe a global flu pandemic, sparked by a new influenza virus, could occur at any time. Some are suggesting the virus could cause the death of as many as 150 million worldwide; others estimate it may only be several thousand.

The exact quantification of the impact on the territory is hard to determine, said Cathers, adding it will depend on the preparedness nationally and internationally.

But the health implications are real and are being taken seriously, he said.

'But it's not just the health care system. It's also throughout society.'

The Yukon needs to not only be prepared to address the possible need for additional medical attention for its residents. The effect a widespread flu could have on how the territory functions must also be taken into consideration.

Brian Kitchen, the director of policy and social development for the Department of Health and Social Services, said pandemic planning is structured around three major components.

The public health response is the top priority, but business continuity and the possible social disruption are also key concerns, he said.

The Yukon needs to ensure essential services and government continue to operate, even in the wake of a pandemic, said Kitchen.

Planning also needs to acknowledge a new influenza could create a deterrence from people in the community going out and taking part in social activities that stimulate the economy or may even disrupt the territory's supply lines.

Fuel and food are brought up to the Yukon, and if a pandemic is having an impact on the South, it could also create a disruption for the North, he said.

'We need to look beyond the health issue,' said Kitchen. 'That's basically what a pandemic is, it disrupts the workforce.'

Planning for a possible pandemic has really become a cross-border and inter-jurisidictional issue, said Kitchen.

'People are really starting to think through the consequences of the impact of a pandemic on business and the economy.'

The disruption, economic impacts and changes to day-to-day life experienced in Ontario during the 2003 SARS outbreak, which killed 44 people, has really changed the approach of Canadian jurisdictions in addressing a pandemic, he said.

The Yukon's original plan for a pandemic was created in 2001, but has been going through changes since the threat of SARS, West Nile virus and Avian flu hit Canada, said Kitchen.

The pandemic plan falls under the territory's communicable diseases unit, but it's also being addressed by the Community Services department, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, officials in the Environment department and the Emergency Measures Organization.

Canada's western premiers have identified pandemic preparedness as a topic for future discussion.

Cathers said working with Alberta and British Columbia in planning will be important.

'(They will have) just as big, and perhaps a greater, effect on what occurs in the Yukon, depending on how well or poorly they handle issues,' he said.

Kitchen said the implications of a pandemic won't bring the Yukon's economy to its knees, but it does have the potential to slow it down.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy said he would rank the business considerations of a pandemic to be rather low on a list of priorities. Yukoners need to know they will be looked after in the wake of a possibly outbreak, he said.

There needs to be a readiness of all of Yukon's communities, not just the Whitehorse base, he added.

Liberal Health critic Gary McRobb agreed.

Based on the experience of last January's widespread power blackout, Hardy said, it is unclear how prepared the Yukon government is to an emergency situation.

There needs to be a greater public consciousness and awareness about what to do in the case of a pandemic and how to react to an emergency situation, he said.

What the government intends to do in the case of a flu outbreak is unclear, agreed McRobb.

Kitchen acknowledged much of the planning for a pandemic is based on assumptions and unknowns.

If, and when, a pandemic does come to the territory, it could be very mild and not be much worse than an annual flu, he said.

'It will begin slowly. It will likely be identified early on and we'll have time to prepare and put things in place to minimize the impact.'

The needs of the Yukon's most vulnerable, including children and seniors, are being planned for, he said.

The unique challenges that may be experienced in the smaller communities are also being addressed, he added. They may include options of home care, extra nursing staff and health practitioners and the potential need to transport individuals to Whitehorse.

'It's important for the public to know the Yukon is very engaged in the area,' he said. The health ministers' meeting revealed the territory is just as prepared as Alberta and British Columbia, he added.

The planning for a pandemic is an ongoing priority for the Health department.

'It's simply a matter of not considering it acceptable to sit back and say, Society will go on.' We're committed to doing everything we can to ensure we're prepared as we can,' said Cathers.

All individuals interviewed indicated Yukoners need to be aware that severity of a pandemic should not be overblown and that if it does occur, it will not likely impact a very large proportion of society.

'The disease issues related to influenza are serious, and they have to be treated seriously.

'But in actual terms of people expected to die as a result of that pale in comparison to the number of people we see dying on a yearly basis from heart disease and cancer and motor vehicle accidents,' said Cathers.