Cole County Health Department

As the winter approaches, it will be critical for businesses to plan to prevent disease transmission to protect staff as well as clients from flu infection. Depending on the timing and severity of another potential H1N1 wave, interventions could include: extra measures to ensure that commonly touched surfaces are disinfected or strict enforcement of exclusion policies for staff with flu-like symptoms. While all of us want to do all we can to maintain a sense of normalcy, we need to be ready for whatever the fall may bring.

In an effort to keep businesses informed on guidance and local H1N1 updates please fax to 636-3851 or email pjoyce@colecounty.org your business’s name, contact person and preferred fax or email account and you will be added to our distribution list. Business packets will also be available for download from this website. Finally, be sure to check your local newspaper, as we will also be providing weekly updates there as well.

New guidance has been released that recommends actions that non-healthcare employers should take now to decrease the spread of seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu in the workplace and to help maintain business continuity during the 2009–2010 flu season. The guidance includes additional strategies to use if flu conditions become more severe and some new recommendations regarding when a worker who is ill with influenza may return to work. This guidance is available at the following link; http://flu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/guidance.html

With the new guidance is a toolkit at http://flu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/toolkit.pdf

Another great resource for businesses is Fight The Flu which has additional guidance for businesses including guidance for businesses which host attractions, and a checklist.

Advise all employees to stay home if they are sick-until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines(any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). They should stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, even if they are using antiviral medicines. Businesses should review their policies and practices to consider ways to allow flexibility for employees to stay home when they are sick.