As the US Department of
Health issues a health emergency to help deal with the outbreak
of swine flu, Jani-King stands ready with procedures in place for
contact and airborne precautions.
If you are a client of
Jani-King’s or would like to have your facility properly
cleaned and disinfected in order to help prevent the spread of
Swine Flu and other viruses, please contact a Jani-King regional
support office in your area.
Jani-King’s services include
cleaning programs designed specifically to reduce the spread of
germs on surfaces and contact areas such as door handles,
railings, sinks and other high-touch points.
How do you catch
swine flu? Spread of swine flu can occur in two ways:
Through
contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with
swine flu viruses. Through contact with a person with swine flu.
Human-to human spread of swine flu has been documented also and
is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu. Influenza is
thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or
sneezing of infected people.
What can I do to protect myself from
getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect
against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help
prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like
influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands
often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Try to avoid
close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza,
CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit
contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching
your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
How long can an
infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine
influenza virus infection should be considered potentially
contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to
7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger
children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
Are
there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use
of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention
of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs
are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that
fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in
your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness
milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent
serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work
best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of
symptoms).
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent
medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not
interacting - Being so irritable that the child does not want to be
held - Flu-like symptoms improve, then return with fever and worse
cough - Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that
need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or
shortness of breath - Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting
What
should I do if someone has contracted Swine Flu in my facility?
First make sure the person(s) has sought medical attention.
Because the swine flu is passed thru the air and by touching
infected surfaces it is very important to properly clean and
disinfect all surface using an EPA approved hospital grade
disinfectant. Not all disinfectants can kill the H1N1 virus and
proper cleaning techniques must be used in order to ensure that
the surfaces are being cleaned and disinfected properly. If
proper procedures are not in place it is possible to help spread
the virus to other surfaces in the facility.
If your facility has
been contaminated by swine flu Jani-King is ready to assist you
in removing this virus from your facility in order to continue
daily operations. Jani-King’s staff understands how to
properly process your facility and use the right disinfectants
and procedures to safely remove the virus from surfaces inyour
facility. The previous information is directly from the Center
for Disease Control (CDC) and serves as information only
(www.cdc.gov).
