Majority of IT companies unconcerned by swine flu

Most IT companies are not worried about swine flu because they have not yet been affected by it and so have not developed any contingency plans for the winter.

Figures from the British Chambers of Commerce revealed less than half of 450 firms surveyed have a plan built around a potential winter outbreak, while only around 30 per cent think it poses a real threat to the economy, reports Contractor UK.

Businesses concerned that a potential second wave of infections could affect the UK in the upcoming winter months could consider upgrading their IT systems to enable staff to work from home using a mobilebroadband connection and VoIP hardware.

A spokeswoman for major computer firm Hewlett Packard (HP) told the website: "HP is monitoring the situation in each country where it operates and will increase protective measures at its facilities based on risk and as recommended by local authorities."

Swine flu has officially been declared a pandemic, having spread from rural Mexico earlier this year.