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| Business & Industry Planning for the Avian Flu / Pandemic Flu. |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), is an excellent resource for information on avian influenza, (bird flu). http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm.
pandemicflu.gov is also an excellent resource. http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/business/index.html.
Please visit these sites for the most up-to-date information on how to protect your business, your family, and yourself.
As part of your comprehensive business pandemic influenza plan you may want to consider our Health Safety Kit. Our kits come in a small hip pack that can eaisly be distributed to individual employees or family members. The health safety kit includes twelve CDC, NIOSH-approved N-95 respirator masks, six sanitizing towels, and a four ounce bottle of antiseptic instant hand sanitizer, and a pack of facial tissue.
According to the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm, “human influenza is transmitted from person to person primarily via virus-laden large droplets (particles >5 µm in diameter) that are generated when infected persons cough or sneeze; these large droplets can then be directly deposited onto the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract of susceptible persons who are near (i.e., within 3 feet) the droplet source. transmission also may occur through direct and indirect contact with infectious respiratory secretions.”
General precautions to control the spread of flu include:
Cough Etiquette
Washing hands thoroughly and freequently
Getting the seasonal flu vaccine
Having workers stay home if they develop flu-like symptons
Some additional precautions for people who may be exposed to the Bird Flu / Avian Ifluenza, and SARS are:
Pay careful attention to hand hygine
Use disposable gloves or gloves that can be disinfected
Use protective clothing (long-sleeved coveralls with a waterproof apron or hospital gown)
Use disposable shoe covers or those that can be disinfected
Use safety goggles
Wear a NIOSH-approved disposable particulate respirator, N95 or higher.(mask)*
1 http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/infect-control.htm, http://www.osha.gov/oshdoc/data_avianflu/avian_flu_general_precautions.pdf.
*respirators should be used in the context of a complete respiratory protection program as required by the occupational safety and health administration (osha). this includes training, fit-testing, and fit-checking to ensure appropriate respirator selection and use. to be effective, respirators must provide a proper sealing surface on the wearer's face. detailed information on a respiratory protection program is provided at this osha web page
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