Waiting too long to implement 'personal infection control' a flu hazard
Release date: July 13th, 2007
AUSTRALIANS suffering from winter flu may be waiting too long to implement personal infection control to prevent the illness spreading in homes and workplaces.
MBF chief medical officer Dr Christine Bennett said there could be confusion in the community over when flu is at its most infectious and the duration of the likely infection period.
"Flu often spreads among family members and work colleagues but it doesn't need to become a family affair or an annual feature of the workplace in winter," Dr Bennett said.
"Flu can spread unchecked when people suffering from this potentially serious illness wait too long to implement personal infection control techniques. It is important for everyone to understand that infection control should begin immediately with the onset of 'chills and fever' and upper respiratory symptoms such as coughing or runny noses.
"At this point, it is time to go home, stay away from work, avoid community contact and be extremely vigilant about basic hygiene including covering up coughs and sneezes and washing hands regularly.
"People suffering from a severe cold can incorrectly identify it as the flu but whether it is a cold or flu the need for personal infection control is just as valid."
Dr Bennett also urged employers to play a part in infection control by making sure that hand washing gels and alcohol wipes are widely available in the workplace.
Employers should also encourage their employees to obtain flu vaccination each year as an important prevention initiative. They should also be proactive about encouraging employees to stay home when they show the telltale signs of flu.
"The general advice on flu is that symptoms tend to appear one to three days following becoming infected and someone with flu is likely to be contagious for three to four days after symptoms appear," Dr Bennett said.
"People with flu feel miserable and lethargic but it is important for them to make personal infection control a priority to prevent the spread of the illness."
