How to Guard Employees from the Swine Flu Virus

grishien | Nov 18, 2009 |

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The Swine flu virus (also recognized as H1N1 flu) is a new wave of influenza that was initially identified early in 2009. In accordance with the Canada Public Health Agency, everybody is at danger of catching the Swine flu virus, as persons have no natural resistance against it. Nevertheless, while the regular flu typically affects young people and seniors, the Swine flu virus seems to have an effect more on young and healthy individuals than the ordinary seasonal flu. Besides that, pregnant women and people with underlying or chronic medical conditions may be at a more serious risk for progressing complications from the flu.

How to Recognize Swine flu Symptoms

While the exact period throughout which someone is contagious is still to be determined, it's considered that an infected individual can start spreading the virus to other people 24 hours prior to symptoms start, and they will stay contagious for just about seven days after symptoms have commenced.

Symptoms incorporate:

Virtually always: fever and coughing
Typically: tiredness, sore throat, muscle aches, decreased appetite, runny nose, headache
On occasion: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea

How to Preclude Swine flu Infection:

The Canada Public Health Agency advises the following avoidance methods:

Frequent Washing hands with warm water and soap.
Applying hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent of alcohol content. This is particularly advised while traveling and when water and soap are not instantly available.
Coughing and sneezing into one's tissue or a sleeve to stay away from spreading the germs.
Evading contact with sick persons that are showing flu like warning signs.
Obtaining the flu shot.
Repeatedly disinfecting and cleaning surface areas for example light switches, doorknobs, telephones and PC keyboards.
Staying physically active and eating wholesome foods to maintain a strong immune system.

Pandemic Measures to Protect Staff members against the Swine flu Virus

Infected staff members can certainly spread the virus to clients and colleagues they come into communication with. In order to avoid company-wide infection and guard staff members and their families, organizations should think about implementing the below stated pandemic measures:

Instructing staff members on how the Swine flu virus spreads, warning signs, and treatment and avoidance methods.
Presenting information through business intranet sites, newsletters on wellness and health, seminars, or dedicated 1-800 hotlines.
Providing every single staff member with alcohol hand tissues, and making them accessible in areas for example, kitchens, washrooms, meeting rooms and training rooms.
Allowing staff members to get the Swine flu shot during office hours, without their payment being affected by this.
Encouraging workers to remain home and see a doctor once they begin feeling sick.
Incorporating a user-friendly system to supervise of staff members' unavailability because of sickness, and make sure their work is covered throughout their absence.

At the same time as there is no need to panic around the Swine flu virus, it is vital for all employees to be knowledgeable and understand what to do in case of disease. Leaders, in particular, should be conscious of what needs to be done in periods of crisis, and must have an emergency plan in place in case chief team members fall sick.

For more information on the Swine flu virus and how to stay healthful, check out the internet sites of the WHO (World Health Organization) and the Canada Public Health Agency.