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Swine flu continues to spread in a troubling pattern among healthcare workers and children
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(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Healthcare workers are coming down with the swine flu in a troubling pattern of infection as the flu spreads in the US despite the fact that summer has arrived.
Usually, influenza viruses all but disappear during the summer months. This year, however, the swine flu is continuing to spread, mostly in the cooler weather of the northeast, but throughout the US as well.
The persistence of this flu could be due to a total lack of immunity to this virus in younger individuals; about 60% of those infected in the US have been younger than 18.
According to the CDC, potentially infectious patients are not being promptly identified when they arrive at healthcare facilities. This delay means that healthcare workers are not taking precautions, such as wearing a surgical mask, early enough in their interaction with these patients and are, therefore, contracting the flu.
The CDC has also seen that the swine flu is spreading between healthcare workers, meaning that they are coming to work even when they’re sick.
Health officials are now concerned about the possibility of outbreaks in summer camps. The CDC has posted guidance for camp counselors and staff and for parents on how to treat a sick child and how to prevent such an outbreak.
To keep yourself and others safe from the swine flu:
• Wash your hands often: Lather with soap and warm water and rub your hands for 15-20 seconds. Dry your hands well. Antimicrobial soaps are no more effective at killing germs than are regular soaps.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer: Use ½ a teaspoon and rub your hands together until dry. Note, that sanitizers that don’t contain alcohol are ineffective at killing germs.
• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough: Use your sleeve or arm rather than your hand. Sneezing into your hand will cause the germs to spread more easily as you touch objects around you or shake hands with someone else.
• Stay at home if you’re sick: Keep yourself or your child home for 7 days, even if you or your child start to feel better during that time. Going to work or school will only help to spread the virus to others.
For more information: Keeping kids safe from swine flu, Why is this flu different?, How to make a flu vaccine, Keeping healthy
Guidance from the CDC on taking care of a sick person in your home
Swine flu updates form the CDC
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