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Preventing Flu in the Workplace
DES PLAINES, Ill., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- What should your
workplace do to prepare for a possible flu pandemic? Keep informed, develop
a plan and implement public health programs are some of the tips offered
to businesses by the American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Healthcare
Practice Specialty group in a newsletter article titled 'Avian Flu: Infection
Control
Guidelines'.
The article is a response to questions on avian flu from several of ASSE's
30,000 occupational safety, health and environmental practitioners, who
are on the front lines of protecting workers. The Healthcare Practice
Specialty notes that a pandemic is a global disease outbreak and an influenza
pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is
little or no immunity in the human population and spreads easily from
person-to-person
worldwide.
"In the past, flu pandemics have led to thousands of deaths in the
U.S.," ASSE President Jack H. Dobson, Jr., CSP, said. "This
information could help in controlling the spread of a possible flu outbreak."
Recently, a virulent strain of the bird/avian flu, also known as H5N1,
spread from Asia to Europe. The virus can infect humans as well as birds
and can cause serious disease and death.
The article also notes that there are three strains of flu commonly
discussed. The first form is seasonal flu, which happens every year in
the U.S., killing about 36,000 people annually. The second strain is bird
flu or avian influenza, H5N1, which occurs among birds. However, in 1997,
a lethal strain of H5N1 appeared among humans in Hong Kong hospitalizing
18 people and killing six people, according to officials. The victims
had had close contact with poultry. As of December 2005, the H5N1 bird
flu strain had only been transmitted from birds to humans, according to
officials, who also note that
there have been no reported cases of H5N1 passing from one person to another.
The third form is pandemic flu. The H5N1 bird flu strain in Asia is causing
concern about the possibility of a pandemic. If and when the H5N1 bird
flu strain mutates to an H5N1 human pandemic strain, it could spread rapidly
around the world within several weeks to months, according to officials.
From a workplace standpoint, avian flu may be more threatening to
employees of poultry farms, other farm workers and animal handlers. According
to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's
(OSHA) 'Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu' document it
is these workers who are most likely to recognize an infected bird or
animal.
The avian flu can be transmitted in many ways. The World Health
Organization (WHO) notes, "In an agricultural setting, animal manure
containing influenza virus can contaminate dust and soil, causing infection
when the contaminated dust is inhaled. Contaminated farm equipment, feed,
cages, or shoes can carry the virus from farm to farm. The virus can also
be carried on the bodies and feet of animals, such as rodents. The virus
can survive, at cool temperatures, in contaminated manure for at least
three months."
Dobson notes there are ways the infection can be controlled on farms including
the quarantining of infected farms and destruction of infected or potentially
exposed flocks. However, avian influenza viruses are readily transmitted
from farm to farm by mechanical means, such as by contaminated equipment,
vehicles, feed, cages, shoes, and clothing.
There currently is no commercially available vaccine, the article notes,
to protect people against the H5N1 virus. However, research studies to
test a vaccine to protect people against the H5N1 virus began in April
2005, and a series of clinical trials is under way.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the Healthbeat article
suggests that communities, workplaces and individuals should:
-- develop and implement preparedness plans as one would for other public
health emergencies; participate and promote state and community public
health efforts and implement prevention and control actions recommended
by public health officials and providers who can supply information about
the signs and symptoms of a specific disease outbreak and to communicate
this information with employees;
-- participate in influenza vaccination programs annually, especially
if
at a high risk to acquire influenza infections;
-- participate in annual health promotion programs to prevent airborne,
blood borne, waterborne, food borne and contact types of diseases and
infections if you are a healthcare worker, school teacher, work in protecting
public safety, prison population and an emergency responder;
-- adopt business and school practices that encourage sick
employees/students to stay home;
-- anticipate how to function with a significant portion of the
workforce/school population absent due to illness or caring for ill
family members;
-- practice good health habits, including eating a balanced diet,
exercising daily, and getting sufficient rest and take common-sense
steps to stop the spread of germs -- wash hands frequently with soap and
hot water; wash hands before eating, drinking and before applying cosmetics
and lip balm to prevent accidental ingestion of pathogens, eat only cooked
meats and poultry, and, cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and try
to stay away from others if you are sick;
-- stay informed about pandemic influenza and be prepared to respond;
-- use national and local pandemic hotlines that will be established in
the event of a global influenza outbreak; and consult
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
, the White House web site, for updates on national and international
information and strategies.
SOURCE American Society of Safety Engineers
Web Site: http://www.asse.org
last updated: January 25, 2006
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