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How Can Employers Prepare for H1N1 Flu?

With fall fast upon us, public health officials in Massachusetts and around the country are preparing for a resurgence of the H1N1 (“swine flu”) influenza. The return of H1N1 could pose serious problems for employers across the Commonwealth and be more challenging than last spring, when the virus first emerged.  That’s because the H1N1 resurgence will coincide with the annual autumn outbreak of seasonal influenza. For the first time in memory, people will be at risk for different strains of flu in the same season.  This could lead to medical complications, extra demands on health systems, and high rates of absenteeism from school and work.

For most people, H1N1 causes typical flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, coughing, respiratory problems, and lack of energy.  It rarely becomes a severe illness requiring hospitalization, but H1N1 spread rapidly through the state last spring, especially in children.  Sixty-four percent of confirmed cases of H1N1 were in people 18 years old or younger.  Thousands of people became ill, and there have been 11 deaths in Massachusetts so far.  Pregnant women, along with adults and children with certain chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes, are at greater risk of complications.

Vaccine manufacturers are nearly ready to release a new vaccine to prevent H1N1.  It will likely be available in mid-October and will be distributed free of charge, beginning with health care providers and high risk populations.  As additional quantities are produced, the vaccine will be available to the public at large on a voluntary basis.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will allocate H1N1 vaccine to locations throughout the state, including to businesses capable of immunizing employees through occupational health units. 

Here are some ways businesses in Massachusetts can prepare for the upcoming flu season:
• Contact local public health departments to learn about and support vaccination activities in their communities.
• Encourage employees to get vaccinated with seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible in September and with H1N1 vaccine when it's available. Consider offering seasonal flu vaccination clinics at the worksite.  
• Develop continuity of operations plans, and cross-train staff to deal with increases in absenteeism due to the flu.
• Implement non-punitive sick time policies that encourage employees to stay home if they are sick or caring for family members.  This will help people regain their health, protect other employees, and reduce absenteeism.
• Explore alternative work models, such as telecommuting.
• Encourage employees to practice good hand hygiene by encouraging frequent hand washing and by providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

AIM is partnering with DPH to make sure its members have the most updated information on how to protect their employees this flu season. For more information about the flu, visit DPH’s web site at www.mass.gov/dph. To see a flu preparedness toolkit especially for businesses, visit www.flu.gov.   DPH also has a website (http://www.mass.gov/dph/h1n1registration) with information for provider sites, including employer occupational health units, about how to register with the Massachusetts H1N1 Vaccine Program.