The recent publicity surrounding cases of swine flu in the U.S. and Mexico has raised the awareness of employees and prompted questions about appropriate workplace cautions. The following information, taken from the Center for Disease Control's website, is provided to address some of these questions and to provide a resource for further investigation by concerned employees. Flu vaccines administered in fall 2008 and winter 2009 do not protect against swine flu so it is important to minimize exposure and practice good health habits to reduce your chances of becoming ill.
Facts - People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu. Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs. The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
Here are some examples of steps you can take to manage your risk of infection:
1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or carry a small-size, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it often. You can purchase alcohol-based hand sanitizer at any local pharmacy or grocery store.
2. Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes.
3. Don't eat, drink or smoke after others.
4. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve so viruses are trapped in the fabric of your clothing and so you do not contaminate your hands. If you cough into a tissue, throw it in a wastebasket immediately. Don't lay it on a surface that others might touch. Wash or sanitize your hands as soon a possible.
5. Avoid close contact with people who are ill and stay home when you are sick.
Simple actions such as these can reduce the chances of you contracting this and other illnesses. Further information specific to swine flu can be found at the following URL's:
If you own swine, consider the following practices to enhance the biosecurity on your farm to prevent the disease from being transmitted to your herd:
1. Workers should shower and change into farm-specific clothes and shoes before entering swine facilities.
2. Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers presenting influenza-like symptoms.
3. Recommend that workers with symptoms be seen by a medical provider immediately.
4. Restrict the entry of people into your facility to only workers and essential service personnel.
5. Prevent international visitors from entering your facilities.
6. Ensure adequate ventilation in facilities to minimize re-circulation of air inside animal housing facilities.
7. Vaccinate pigs against the influenza virus. Vaccination of pigs can reduce the levels of virus shed by infected animals
8. Contact your swine veterinarian if swine exhibit flu-like or respiratory illness, especially if the onset or presentation of the illness is unusual.
9. Notify your Texas Animal Health Commission area office or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242, after you have contacted your veterinarian.
The Texas Animal Health Commission is ready to assist with on-farm investigations, if pigs are present where a known human case has occurred, and to assist with epidemiological investigations with any human cases that may have links to swine in Texas.
Resources
· Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
· Texas Department of State Health Services: www.dshs.state.tx.us\swineflu
· Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN): http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/disease-and-epidemic.php
