Influenza Information
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) General Information
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may have the H1N1 flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:
- fever (It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever)
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
For more information on H1N1, go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
Know the Difference between Cold and Influenza Symptoms
| Symptom | Cold | Influenza |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Fever is rare with a cold. | Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu. |
| Coughing | A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold. | A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). |
| Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. | Severe aches and pains are common with the flu. |
| Stuffy Nose | Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu. |
| Chills | Chills are uncommon with a cold. | 60% of people who have the flu experience chills. |
| Tiredness | Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu. |
| Sneezing | Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. | Sneezing is not common with the flu. |
| Sudden Symptoms | Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. | The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. |
| Headache | A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases. |
| Sore Throat | Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. | Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu. |
| Chest Discomfort | Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. |
Addressing the Presence of Influenza on Campus
Flu Facts
The flu virus, including influenza A (H1N1), is primarily transmitted through person to person contact, and mainly through inhalation of aerosolized droplets ejected during coughing and sneezing by infected persons. Touching a surface contaminated with virus and then touching the mouth or nose can also result in infection. Survival times for influenza A viral particles outside the human body are reported to be (room temperature) 8 to 12 hours on paper or cloth, 24 to 48 hours on non-porous surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, desks, etc., and up to 72 hours on wet surfaces.
Prevention of Illness in Well Employees
To reduce the likelihood of spread of the virus, office safety committees are directed to work with their office cleaning staff to ensure commonly-touched hard surfaces, called “fomites” (e.g., counter tops, door knobs, light switches, public phones, elevator buttons, stair hand rails, railings, refrigerator door handles, sinks, coffee pots, vending equipment, and bathroom fixture/surfaces) are routinely sanitized as part of the building cleaning schedule. The disinfection frequency of fomite surfaces in high-traffic rooms and common areas should be increased (as possible, work with building management) to a minimum of three times daily. Appropriate cleaning involves wiping these fomite surfaces down with a household disinfectant that has a type A influenza kill claim on it (i.e., label states that it is effective against "Influenza A virus"). A mixture of 10% sodium hypochlorite solution (one part household bleach to nine parts tap water) can also be used.
While office cleaning can help control the spread of virus, transmission of any flu in any workplace is greatly determined by the actions of the office workers. Following is a list of behaviors staff should take to minimize the likelihood of viral transmission:
- Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing, respiratory etiquette (cover your mouth/nose when sneezing!), and promptly throw used tissues away – do not place tissues on desk even for a few seconds.
- Provide alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers in common workplace areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms, and encourage their frequent use.
- Provide tissues, disinfectant wipes and sprays, and disposable towels for employees to clean the work surfaces at their desks and in their cubicles (e.g., desktops, computer keyboards and other computer equipment, telephones, etc.).
- Discourage employees from using other employees’ phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment.
- When meetings are necessary, avoid close contact by maintaining as much separation as possible, and assure that there is proper ventilation in the meeting room.
- At this time, the use of protective surgical or respiratory style masks is not recommended by the CDC for H1N1 virus, either while working in the office or while traveling.
Management of Confirmed or Suspected Cases of Influenza A
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (>100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. This guidance, issued in the CDC H1N1 Flu Website Situation Update, August 7, 2009, is a recent change from the previous recommendation that ill persons stay home for seven (7) days after illness onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever was longer. The new recommendation applies to camps, schools, businesses, mass gatherings, and other community settings where the majority of people are not at increased risk for influenza complications.
- Employees Exposed to or Contracting the Flu
- Employees who become ill or have family member who is ill with influenza should be encouraged to follow the advice above. Time away from work should be recorded as paid-time-off or sick leave as appropriate to the policy.
- Flu Shots
- The CDC encourages employees to get a flu shot.
- Because the vaccine for the H1N1 flu is new and may not be available as early as the standard flu vaccine, employees who wish to take the H1N1 vaccine should be encouraged to contact their regular health care provider.
- Communications
- Posters – restrooms, common areas, computer labs, etc.
- Hand sanitizing dispensers available.
- E-mails – students and employees mailboxes – with information and updates.
- Updates are available from the front page of the web.
- Cleaning/sanitizing solutions have been and continue to be used.
