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Advice On Preventing the Spread of Swine Flu
16/06/2009
By providing hygienic workplace environments, public places, and washroom facilities, businesses can help reduce the risk of transmission of swine flu and similar workplace illnesses.
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease which occurs frequently in pigs, caused by type-A influenza virus. It is very rare for humans to contract swine flu, but infections can and do happen.
GPs, hospitals, and businesses across the world are preparing for the possibility of a pandemic and governments and the World Health Organization are closely monitoring the situation.
- Download PDF - find out how you can protect your workplace from swine flu
How is swine flu spread?
In the past the swine flu virus was contracted by people that worked in close proximity to pigs such as farmers, but in this current outbreak, the swine flu virus has been spread further by person-to-person contact.
It is thought that the virus is spreading in the same way as other seasonal influenza (flu), via coughs and sneezes, and it is contagious. Droplets from a cough or a sneeze from an infected person can travel through the air before being inhaled or landing on surrounding surfaces.
By touching these contaminated surfaces and then touching the eyes, mouth or nose, people may infect themselves and carry the infection onto other surfaces they touch, hence spreading the virus.
The swine flu virus can survive on surfaces such as tables, door handles, telephones, desks for 2 hours or longer.
- Download PDF - find out how you can protect your workplace from swine flu
How can I protect myself from swine flu?
Some steps you can take to defend against swine flu are:
- Wash your hands frequently with anti-bacterial soap and water, ensuring your hands are completely dry after washing.
- Cough into a tissue and dispose of the tissue immediately after use
- Clean hard surfaces, such as door handles and work benches frequently using a normal cleaning product.
- Sanitise office equipment such as phones, and keyboards regularly
- If you feel unwell, avoid the risk of cross-infection by distancing yourself from other
- Download PDF - find out how you can protect your workplace from swine flu
“Our first line of defense against all viruses is hand washing,"
Rob Donofrio, Ph.D.
Director of NSF's Microbiology Laboratory.
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