By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The H5N1 avian influenza virus can survive for more than a month in bird droppings in cold weather and for nearly a week even in hot summer temperatures, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

When people become infected with bird flu, they get a high fever and pneumonia very quickly, according to an updated factsheet from the WHO, posted on the Internet at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avianinfluenz a_fa ctsheetJan2006/en/index.html.

The new factsheet incorporates the most recent findings on the avian flu virus, which WHO says is causing by far the worst outbreak among both birds and people ever recorded.

It has been found from South Korea, across Southeast Asia, into Turkey, Ukraine and Romania. It has infected 149 people and killed 80, according to the WHO figures, which do not include the most recent deaths and infections in Turkey.

Bird droppings may be a significant source of its spread to both people and birds, the WHO said.

"For example, the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus can survive in bird feces for at least 35 days at low temperature (4 degrees C or 39 degrees F)," the WHO site reads.

"At a much higher temperature (37 degrees C or 98.6 degrees F), H5N1 viruses have been shown to survive, in fecal samples, for six days."

Poultry, especially those kept in small backyard flocks, are the main source of the virus.

"These birds usually roam freely as they scavenge for food and often mingle with wild birds or share water sources with them. Such situations create abundant opportunities for human exposure to the virus, especially when birds enter households or are brought into households during adverse weather, or when they share areas where children play or sleep," WHO says.

H5N1 has different qualities from seasonal flu, the WHO said.

LONG INCUBATION PERIOD

"The incubation period for H5N1 avian influenza may be longer than that for normal seasonal influenza, which is around 2 to 3 days. Current data for H5N1 infection indicate an incubation period ranging from 2 to 8 days and possibly as long as 17 days," it said.

"Initial symptoms include a high fever, usually with a temperature higher than 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F), and influenza-like symptoms. Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, and bleeding from the nose and gums have also been reported as early symptoms in some patients."

And with H5N1 infection, all patients have developed pneumonia, and usually very early on the illness, the WHO said.

"On present evidence, difficulty in breathing develops around five days following the first symptoms. Respiratory distress, a hoarse voice, and a crackling sound when inhaling are commonly seen."

There is bloody sputum, it said.

"Another common feature is multiorgan dysfunction, notably involving the kidney and heart," WHO said.

The WHO recommends using Tamiflu, Roche AG's flu drug known generically as oseltamivir, as soon as possible to treat bird flu.

WHO stresses that H5N1 remains mostly a disease of birds, with tens of millions infected in two years.

"For unknown reasons, most cases have occurred in rural and periurban households where small flocks of poultry are kept. Again for unknown reasons, very few cases have been detected in presumed high-risk groups, such as commercial poultry workers, workers at live poultry markets, cullers, veterinarians, and health staff caring for patients without adequate protective equipment," it adds.

"Also lacking is an explanation for the puzzling concentration of cases in previously healthy children and young adults."

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Updated: Sun. Jan. 22 2006 11:07 AM ET

TORONTO — Corporate Canada is increasingly dedicating time and money to preparing for an influenza pandemic, as awareness of the possibility rises.

"About six months ago, there was really no concern, and I think it makes sense to be concerned," says Sherry Cooper, chief economist of BMO Nesbitt Burns and the author of some awareness-raising reports on the topic.

Robert Wilkerson, the global head of Kroll Inc.'s corporate preparedness practice, says "the financial community in Canada is almost in the lead on this, because Canada's experience with SARS was a real eye opener."

He was in Toronto late last year to give a planning workshop based on a scenario in which avian influenza, or bird flu, swept through the human population, causing a pandemic.

But awareness has spread beyond Bay Street, and numerous industries are now taking steps to prepare for such a crisis, which health experts estimate sill hit from one-quarter to one-half of the population in a series of waves.

Air Canada (TSX:ACE.B), Dofasco Inc. (TSX:DFS), CIBC (TSX:CM), Inco Ltd. (TSX:N) and Manulife Financial (TSX:MFC) are among the companies that say they are working on a contingency plan in case of a pandemic.

The level of preparation ranges among firms. Hamilton-based Dofasco held its first high-level meeting on the issue earlier this month to look at other firms' plans.

"At this point, we're really at the stage of recognizing that responsible organizations are giving this issue some attention, acknowledging we should do so as well, and discussing how we will approach the planning process," says the steelmaker's spokesman, Gord Forstner.

Toronto-based nickel miner Inco Ltd. is "well advanced on avian flu pandemic preparedness planning at our global operations," says spokesman Steve Mitchell. "Because of its location, our Indonesian operations have been at the forefront of our site specific planning activities."

At the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, chief executive Nick Jennery says "this is something that we started working on, pandemic specific, probably about seven, eight months ago."

The council's members represent 80 per cent of all grocery distribution sales in Canada, and more than 500,000 employees.

"We are dealing with this as an industry," Jennery said. "What's driving our whole plan is to make sure that the public has access to product should a worst case scenario unfold.

"So, we are looking at things like surge buying, how to keep distribution centres open, whether we consolidate around stores. The details, we are obviously working out."

Jennery notes that, when it comes to contingency planning, "we're pretty good at this." The industry has dealt with trucker blockades, port strikes, and hurricanes. "What makes this a bit different is just the sheer scale of it," he says.

In a recent article written for the Harvard Business Review, Cooper said that most companies have not adequately planned for a pandemic, and notes that it's "very different" than traditional crisis management.

"An influenza pandemic will likely be prolonged -- measured in months, not weeks or days -- and it will be pervasive," she wrote.

"For most businesses, it would be prudent to take some actions immediately. Even though the probability of an influenza pandemic might be low, the consequences are enormous."

Ron Lennox, vice-president of trade and security at the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said the alliance is already in discussions with other infrastructure networks and Transport Canada.

One key challenge the industry would face in the event of a pandemic is how to deal with fewer employees when truck drivers are already in short supply, Lennox said.

"This may mean dedicating trucks to haul 'essential' products such as food, medicine and fuel. It may also require some temporary adjustments to existing regulations to ensure demands can be met with available resources," he said.

The alliance is also trying to ensure it will have adequate fuel and spare parts ready.

Mark Hallman, spokesman for Canadian National Railway Co., said the company (TSX:CNR) has attended meetings with other major employers to benchmark its pandemic preparedness.

In the U.S., CN has participated in a Homeland Security exercise, along with other U.S. railroads, to assess the impact on an influenza pandemic on the transportation of goods.

In Canada, CN has given public health authorities in Ontario information on the number of essential service employees it has.

Canada's pandemic influenza plan says about one million people will be deemed essential service providers for the purposes of doling out vaccines. Those people include utility workers, funeral service personnel, and people employed in public transportation and the transport of essential goods like food.

If there were an outbreak, CN says it would take direction from public health agencies about travel restrictions and would cooperate in the distribution of vaccine and antiviral drugs, but would not store or distribute medication unless recommended.

"In the interest of preventing infectious diseases and of limiting the spread of infectious diseases, CN would provide employees with information on good hygiene to minimize the risk," Hallman added.

That is likely music to Bill Gastle's ears. The chief executive of Toronto-based Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX:MBX) has made his company's pandemic response plan publicly available on the Internet, and he says a plan has to do more than enable employees to work from home -- it has to teach them about hygiene to minimize exposure.

Cooper says multinational companies, which will be dealing with governments around the world, will be at the forefront of disseminating information. All firms should consider stockpiling key hygiene-related supplies, including face masks, disinfectants and hand-washing materials, she says.

She also recommends buying extra replacement parts for vital equipment, as travel and transport will be disrupted in the event of a pandemic.

"It's very important that businesses make it very clear to their employees that there will be a very liberal sick leave and family policy," she adds. "What you don't want is sick people coming to work, and the biggest reason that people would come to work is the fear of lost salary."

Cooper suggests planning for a 30 per cent reduction in workforce, which might include measures like cross-training or establishing a pool of available contract workers and retirees.