Small Town News

Business, employers urged to prepare for H1N1 flu

---

State officials are urging South Dakota businesses and employers to plan and prepare for the potential impact of H1N1 flu and seasonal flu on their operations.

"It's important employers be thinking now about how to prevent flu in the workplace and how to maintain operations with workers out ill," said Doneen Hollingsworth, Secretary of Health. "Planning now can help ensure we're ready for whatever the H1N1 virus does this fall."

Hollingsworth said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated H1N1 guidance specifically for businesses. That guidance recommends businesses implement common sense measures to reduce the risk of spreading the flu such as regular and frequent hand washing and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. The guidance also calls for encouraging workers who are sick to stay home and promoting seasonal flu vaccination as well as H1N1 vaccination when that vaccine becomes available.

"Right now the H1N1 flu virus doesn't appear to be any more severe than seasonal flu but no one can predict the extent and severity of the outbreak," said Hollingsworth. "That's why we want all South Dakotans, including employers, to make common sense preparations and stay informed."

Hollingsworth recommended the following basic hygiene measures to help prevent seasonal influenza, colds, and omer respiratory diseases, including H1N1 flu:

Get vaccinated for seasonal flu once me vaccine is available.

Wash your hands often with soap and water and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home when you're sick.

Practice omer good health habits - get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and avoid smoking.

The CDC guidance for businesses can be found on the department's web site, http://doh.sd.gov, along with other resources and South Dakota case numbers. Information is also available from CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or the web at www.cdc.gov.



Copyright 2009 The Hartford "Area" News, Hartford, South Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Hartford "Area" News Hartford, Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Hartford "Area" News