Are You Prepared? About What Do You Really Need To Be Concerned? Comments and Guidance About The Swine Flu

When a new strain of flu emerges that can be spread from person to person, it may be spread rapidly, since many will have no natural immunity to it, and it will take months before a vaccine is developed and distributed. When there are outbreaks of this type of disease in more than one country within a short time period, health agencies use the term “pandemic”. However, this term in no way refers to the severity of symptoms.

Some pandemics are mild in terms of level of illness, some even more mild than seasonal flu. Others, such as have occurred earlier in the century, produced widespread severe symptoms among the population and caused significant economic disruptions. Especially in the current news climate, where the “reporting” often seems to be more about generating ratings than informing the public, it is important to listen or read closely to understand the course of the current outbreak and how it might affect you.

Here is what is known about the Swine Flu at this time:

Swine flu in humans resembles seasonal flu, with symptoms such fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people experience diarrhea and vomiting as well. Like regular flu, swine flu can in some cases cause serious respiratory problems or worsening of chronic medical problems.

There is currently no vaccine for Swine flu. Vaccines for seasonal flu provide no protective effect for the H1N1 strain.

At this time, the CDC recommends that people who live in or have recently traveled to San Diego and Imperial Counties in California or Guadalupe County in Texas and who develop flu symptoms consider seeking care from their health care providers. More serious symptoms require emergency medical care.

In children, such symptoms include:
•Fast breathing or trouble breathing
•Bluish skin color
•Not drinking enough fluids
•Not waking up or not interacting
•Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
•Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
•Fever with a rash


In adults such symptoms include:
•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
•Sudden dizziness
•Confusion
•Severe or persistent vomiting

Relative to all flu epidemics, workers have varying degree of exposure risk depending on their occupations:

•Healthcare employees, such as doctors and medical laboratory personnel have the highest risk followed by healthcare support staff exposed to known or suspected flu victims
•Those in schools or other high density work environments are at medium risk of exposure
•Lower risk employees have minimal contact with other co-workers or the public. However, since even these workers may have family members or associates with greater exposure or participate in avocational activities involving large groups, it is foolish to assume that this population does not have to take any precautions.

For more information about how to protect your business, follow this link:
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic