Responding to the heightened attention on flu outbreaks, CUNA Mutual Group has stepped up its warning notification process to credit unions issuing a new "RISK Alert" last week as a reminder on employee absenteeism affecting operations and member service.

In its latest "alert notice," CUNA Mutual said, "unlike other disaster scenarios where loss of equipment, systems or facilities may be the most significant challenge, responding to a pandemic flu centers on your employees' ability to perform their duties."

The notice cited statistics from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta reporting the number of H1N1 cases increasing with the virus "thought to be spread in the same manner as seasonal flu- person-to-person when those with influenza cough or sneeze" also being spread by "touching objects contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth or nose."