Influenza at work

THE CASE

Influenza is spread from person to person mainly by droplet infection - when people cough or sneeze near each other. It can also be spread by contact, when a person touches nasal secretions or saliva from an infected person, and then touch their own mouth or nose.

PREVENTING INFLUENZA SPREAD AT WORK

VACCINATION

The best way to minimise serious illness from influenza is vaccination. Everyone at risk of lower respiratory infection should be vaccinated each year. Vaccination also helps prevent your co-workers and your family from getting the flu from you.

GENERAL HYGIENE

1. Have your own mug and glass, don't share.

2. Don't share phones - either fixed phones or mobiles.

3. Don't share headsets.

4. Your keyboards and mouse can also transmit infection.

4. Wash up with hot water.

5. Don't use a tea towel, or use a clean one each time.

RESPIRATORY HYGIENE

1. Tissues, waste containers, and hand antiseptics should be available at every work station.

2. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

3. Throw your tissue into a waste container immediately after use.

4. Disinfect, or wash your hands with soap and water immediately after discarding your tissue.

5. Consider the good Japanese custom of wearing face masks to limit droplet transmission.

HAND HYGIENE

All sink areas should have plenty of soap and paper towel available. Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds with a rubbing action with soap and warm water, rinse, and then dry with a paper towel. Use a clean paper towel to turn off the taps.

To reduce the transmission of respiratory illnesses, wash your hands:

1. After coughing or sneezing.

2. Before eating.

3. After contact with anyone with a respiratory illnesses.

EXCLUSION

1. Anyone who develop symptoms of influenza (fever, chills, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches) while at work should go home immediately. If this is not possible the ill person should be confined in a separate area away from others.

2. Anyone with influenza should stay at home for at least 5 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms. Don't be a hero and Don't soldier on with Codral Cold Tablets

THE WORST CASE

If you still get the "Swine Flu" despite taking all the above precautions, baby yourself, go to bed, hide away, don't exercise, drink plenty of fluids, don't go to work and if you are really unwell see your doctor. Proprietary cold and 'flu remedies will only give symptomatic relief (at best), but there are two antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza that are reported to be effective against the 2009 swine flu. These are probably worth while taking but do have some side effects, see "INFLUENZA treatments under scrutiny"

MY VERDICT

There is nothing new in this blog, just good common sense.