With the H1N1 influenza now reportedly worldwide, health organizations including the Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization are warning everyone is at risk of catching the H1N1 virus. If any of the symptoms below start showing, minimizing contact with others is crucial in keeping everyone healthy and minimizing the virus spread.
- Coughing and fever (almost always seen in H1N1 flu patients)
- Fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, runny nose and decreased appetite (frequently seen in H1N1 flu patients)
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (sometimes seen in H1N1 flu patients)
How Can Employees Protect Themselves and Their Families?
Sometimes the easiest steps are the most effective. These include:
- Washing hands as frequently as possible
- Keeping surface areas (such as desks, computers, keyboards, telephones, headphones, door knobs, etc.) clean and disinfecting them often
- Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content
- Sneezing and coughing into one’s sleeve or a tissue/handkerchief
- Staying home if feeling unwell or if someone in the immediate family is showing flu symptoms
Get the Flu Shot or Not?
There has been a lot of media coverage about the new H1N1 vaccine, and people are confused whether they need to get the vaccine or not. Moreover, some medical practitioners are against the vaccine, while others support it. What to do? Ideally, employees should discuss with their health care provider about the flu, treatment options, benefits and risks of vaccination, and possible complications for those with underlying or chronic medical conditions.
Workplace Measures against the H1N1 Virus
It is already known that the virus spreads very easily from one person to another. This is especially true for those who work in close proximity with others and share cubicles, offices, or meeting rooms. Taking public transportation to work also increases the risk factor.
To prevent company-wide infection, which could affect not only employees and their families, but also clients and business results, organizations should consider implementing a series of pandemic measures. These could include:
- Keeping employees informed about H1N1 in general: symptoms, how long someone is contagious, treatment options, and prevention steps.
- Educating employees through various means including: articles posted on corporate intranet sites, newsletters, brief seminars and presentations.
- Supplying employees with hand sanitizers, and ensuring they are available outside common areas such as washrooms, kitchens, training rooms, or meeting rooms.
- Allowing those employees who want to get the H1N1 flu shot to do so during working hours, and offering paid leave for their absence.
- Sending employees home as soon as they start showing any symptoms, and advising them to see a doctor.
- Tracking employees’ absences due to sickness, to gauge the effect on the company and assess if sufficient people are available to handle the workload.
To find out more about H1N1 and what is recommended to stay healthy, visit the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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