# 2771
This a story that I suspect, sounds more ominous than it really is.
Earlier today, bits and pieces of this story appeared in the Japanese press. Frankly, the translations left a bit to be desired.
Over the past few hours a handful of newshounds, including Florida1, Commonground, and Sally of Flutrackers, along with SophiaZoe of A Pandemic Chronicle, and I began sharing information, and opinions, while we `worked' this story.
SophiaZoe posted a blog on one of the first news articles, earlier this evening.
We've now got a bit more data to chew on, by way of a Bloomberg article on Panasonic's plan.
Panasonic Orders Expat Families Home on Concern of Flu Pandemic
By Kanoko Matsuyama
Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Panasonic Corp., the world’s largest maker of consumer electronics, told Japanese employees in several emerging markets to send their families back to Japan on mounting concern about a potential influenza pandemic.
The company in December instructed staff assigned to parts of Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and South America to repatriate their families by September, Akira Kadota, a spokesman for Osaka- based Panasonic, said by telephone today. He declined to comment on the number of households affected.
Panasonic, which said last week it will cut about 15,000 jobs and report a loss this year, may be the first major company to order families home on concern people wouldn’t receive needed health care in case of a widespread flu outbreak. A pandemic could kill 71 million people worldwide and lead to a “major global recession” costing more than $3 trillion, according to a worst-case scenario outlined by the World Bank in October.
“This is part of our preparations for a new type of influenza,” Kadota said by telephone. “We chose areas after considering the prevalence of bird flu, and the capability of medical facilities and access to them.”
Given the timetable, to have all families repatriated by September, there obviously isn't a real sense of urgency here. The edict went out in December, and now - two months later - it has hit the media.
So while, at first blush, this might seem abrupt and disconcerting, it is obviously part of a long-range strategy.
Once a pandemic begins, it would be very difficult to repatriate a large number of families back to Japan. If travel restrictions are put in place, it could even be impossible.
The management at Panasonic have obviously weighed the pros and cons, and believe it is prudent to start bringing these dependents home now - before a pandemic starts.
It will be interesting to see if other large multinational corporations follow suit.
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