INFLUENZA

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Update: Jan 11, 2010:  H!N1 and Seasonal Flu shots are available.  Although the incidence of H1N1 has decreased, it is possible the H1N1 virus will return in the spring of 2010.  Seasonal Flu vaccine is effective through June 2010.  Please call us at 800-866-8344 to set up your clinic.  Wellness 2000 is also scheduling flu clinics for upcoming season in the fall of 2010.

Seasonal Flu Shots

Seasonal flu shots are available.  The flu shot is recommended for everyone older than 6 months.

Wellness 2000 is scheduling clinics nationwide.  Flu shots are conducted at your work site.  Additional vaccines are available including pneumonia, tetanus and hepatitis.  We maintain billing agreements with the major health insurers or we will establish a billing agreement with your insurer as needed. To set up your clinic at your workplace please call us at 800-866-8344 or email Mark at: mpettee@wellness2000.com

Pandemic Flu Planning:

Wellness 2000 provides pandemic flu planning in accordance with CDC guidelines.  If you need support in developing your plan or you would like consulting services on preventive measures for your employees please call us. 

Flu Facts:

In the United States, every year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications.  20,000 children are hospitalized.  And finally, every year 36,000 people die from the flu.

Protecting the Work Place

Flu is highly contagious and we expect H1N1 and Seasonal Flu to spread rapidly particularly through our schools and businesses.  To protect your workplace consider these actions:

• Keep sick workers away from the job site: review medical leave policies, work from home procedures, cross training or replacement of key employees.
• Review your communications plan to ensure key processes continue to work.
• Provide sanitation resources: make sure tissues, hand sanitizers and disposal towel are available
• Educate on the symptoms and responses to flu - learn more  H1N1 Flu and Business from the CDC

Workplace Questions

How do I recognize a fever or signs of a fever?

A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If a sick employee’s temperature cannot be taken, look for these possible signs of fever: if he or she feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.

Can the flu virus live on surfaces, such as computer keyboards?

Yes, the virus can live on hard objects up to 8 hours. Flu viruses maybe spread when a person touches a hard surface (such as a desk or doorknob) or an object (such as a keyboard or pen) where the virus has landed and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Routine cleaning of surfaces will help stop the virus from spreading in this way.

What are the flu symptoms?

Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

How long should a sick employee stay home?

Under current flu conditions, employees with flu-like symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicine.  In most case employees should plan to be away from work for 3-5 days.

Prevention and Treatment

You can take effective prevention and treatment actions to protect yourself and your family. 

• Get a Flu Shot:


• The seasonal flu vaccine is effective against the most common strains of the flu.  Testing of the H1N1 flu vaccine indicates an effective vaccine. Even if you become ill after taking the vaccine your illness should be shorter and less intense.


• Flu shots are most important for those at high risk - young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart or lung disease, and people 65 and older.


• People that care for those in a high risk group should also receive the flu vaccine.

 

• Practice Good Prevention Everyday.


• Cover your cough
• Wash your hands - often.
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• If you are sick - stay home
• Avoid touching your eyes and  mouth


• If your doctor recommends take antiviral drugs.

 

Ways You Can Stay Healthy

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
• Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds.
• Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
• Cover your coughs with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow.
• Clean frequently touched common surfaces, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
• Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment unless you clean it first.
• Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick, stay home. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• Get vaccinated against seasonal flu. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit. www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

How can I protect my child from the flu?

A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 19 birthday get a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children getting a vaccine for the first time need two doses)

• Children 6 months and older can get a flu shot.
• A nasal-spray vaccine is ok for healthy children 2 years and older
• Children under 5 years who have had wheezing in the past year or any child with chronic health problems should get the flu shot
• You can protect your child by getting a flu vaccine for yourself too. Also encourage your child’s close contacts to get a flu vaccine. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).

 

 

H1N1 (Swine Flu)

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)  is a new flu virus.  Most people do not have immunity to this virus and it spreads quickly.  H1N1 symptoms are very similar to seasonal flu. H1N1 flu is no more dangerous than seasonal flu.  However, until the vaccine can be administered,  the flu is expected to spread rapidly in school age children and young adults. Vaccine for H1N1 flu will be available by mid-October 2009. 

Symptoms:

The symptoms of seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms of flu can also include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. Like seasonal flu, 2009 H1N1 flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. 

Higher Risk Groups:

People at higher risk of 2009 H1N1 flu  are:

• children younger than five years old,
• people who live with or take care of children less than five years old
• pregnant women,
• people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease),

Target Groups for the H1N1 Vaccine

The H1N1 vaccine will be available in mid-October.  Initial supplies will be limited but the supply will increase rapidly in the next 60 days.   Center's for Disease Control recommends the following groups receive the vaccine first:

•  pregnant women,
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
• persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and
• people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders.

 

Wellness 2000, Inc.
           1175 E. Main, Suite 2F       
Medford, OR 97504

     Phone: 800-866-8344   
                email: info@wellness2000.com

In This Article

• Seasonal Flu Shots
• Protecting the Work Place
• Workplace Questions
• Prevention and Treatment
• Protecting Your Child from the Flu
• H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Related Topics

• Your Health
• Assessing Your Health
• Nutrition and Fitness
• Influenza
• Living and Working Well

Links

• Flu Symptoms
• Cold or Flu?
• For Kids-How to Stay Healthy
• A Tutorial on Flu
• Pandemic Flu (flu.gov)