The last thing anyone needed now was a pandemic. If international trade was not threatened enough by the financial crisis, the latest Swine Flu disaster could be a major challenge. However, on the positive side, it appears health authorities have been quick to act in most countries, and officials seem to be handling the situation well. And that's a good sign, as business communities continue to look for glimmers of hope. If anything, the latest disaster appears to have got businesses thinking about risk and mitigation - and luckily, the challenge has come when many organisations actually have time to plan and react appropriately - something not always possible when the focus is on sales and production. Again, those that get through this will emerge stronger and ready for any future challenges