H1N1 and Your Business

From various sources and from my health care provider, I have learned what business owners need to be concerned about with the H1N1 issue and how it impacts their business.

The H1N1 virus can only enter your body through the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not always fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on stocking up on Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless eating, bathing, etc.).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.


4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with
cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down the viral population.

5. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat
into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do harm.

6. If your child under 5 years develops a fever, contract his or her pediatrician. Young children are at a higher risk of developing complications from H1N1.

7. If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, or serve or persistent vomiting either go to the emergency room or call 911. First responders cannot test for H1N1 or administer the H1N1 vaccine, but they can treat you for symptoms of H1N1. The majority of H1N1 cases are not medical emergencies, and most people will recover on their own.

8. When the vaccine is available get vaccinated against the seasonal flu AND H1N1. These are two different vaccines.
9. Avoid visiting a loved one in the hospital if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

10. When you experiencing flu-like symptoms, do not go to work. Stay home, rest and take care of the symptoms so you can get back to work as soon as possible. Do not infect everyone else in the workplace and shut down the business completely.

It is likely that you and or your staff will get the flu at some point during this flu season. It is best to plan on how to manage this situation now by implementing some of the precautions listed above and developing a plan on what you are going to do when someone in your office gets sick.