Flu needn't leave us wallowing in misery

News that a colleague contracted the flu -- yes, that flu -- led me to write. As increasing numbers of the clunkily named H1N1 flu are reported, it’s easy -- dare I say tempting -- to give in to fear and dismay.

Let’s not. That will not help our employees, our clients, or our community.

There are several important things to remember about H1N1:

It’s no worse than the normal seasonal flu. In fact, some cases are milder. So far this year, 593 deaths nationwide have been attributed to H1N1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that seasonal flu and its complications kill an average of 36,000 people a year.

“Pandemic” isn’t as scary as it sounds. It just means the disease has been found on more than one continent. While this was unusual 100 years ago, air travel has made intercontinental transmission much easier.

Young people are more at risk. Usually, the elderly are at an increased risk for flu, but with H1N1, people over 64 are more likely to have resistance due to exposure to a related strain earlier in their lives. Younger people lack this immunity.

It's not swine flu. The virus was misidentified early on because of its similarity to swine flu. An inappropriate amount of media coverage followed, spurred by memories of the swine flu epidemic of the 1970s.

The CDC advises these precautions for all cold and flu viruses:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw away the tissue.


• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.


• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough, sneeze or touch your eyes, nose, or mouth (because we all will, especially when we're trying not to). Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.


• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.


• If you have a flu-like illness, stay home until your fever has been gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medicines) at least 24 hours.

What employers can do:

• Offer your employees paid sick leave. One of the primary reasons people work while sick is that they cannot afford to lose pay.


• Make sure no one in your company is “indispensable.” Cross-training will ensure that staff members do not work while sick just because no one else is able to do what they do. Every person in your company -- including the owner -- should have a backup.


• Sponsor flu shots for your staff. Reimburse employees for all or part of the cost of a flu shot. in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine, an H1N1 vaccine will be available this fall.


• Keep a clean workplace. Flu viruses can survive on surfaces like door knobs for up to 8 hours. Clean regularly with disinfectant.


• Educate yourself. General information about influenza is available at the easy-to-remember flu.gov, while information specific to business owners is available here.