Important Information for NMVAHCS Health Care Workers Influenza Procedures September 22, 2009
Background
The novel 2009 H1N1 influenza (flu) virus is causing illness in infected persons in the United States and countries around the world. Other influenza strains may also circulate and cause illness. Since not everyone is tested and because some of the tests are not accurate, it is not always known which influenza a person has.
Monitor Your Health Daily
All healthcare workers (employees, volunteers and others working at the NMVAHCS) are requested to monitor their health for symptoms of influenza-like illness (see below) every day before coming to work. To protect patients and co-workers, healthcare workers with influenza-like illness should not come to work.
An influenza-like illness is an illness with fever (temperature >1000 F) and any of the following: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
NMVAHCS Call-in Procedures
If you need to call-in sick for any reason, call your supervisor as per established routine practice. Your supervisor will ask:
Do you think you have H1N1? Answering the question is optional. You are NOT required to answer but tracking influenza illness in employees will help us plan our response to the overall situation.
Answer yes, you think you have H1N1 if you have an influenza-like illness with fever (temperature >1000 F) and any of the following: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
If you do NOT have a fever and have not taken fever-reducing medicine (e.g. Tylenol, Ibuprofen) answer no. If you develop a fever before the next shift you are due to work you can revise your answer.
Your supervisor will provide information to Employee Health Services (EHS) – you do NOT need to call EHS.
If You Have An Influenza-like Illness
Most people can be cared for at home, do not require medical care and can expect to recover within a week. See Care of Influenza at Home Instructions (updated Sept 09).
The CDC recommends that person working in healthcare (with or without direct patient contact) stay home for at least 7 days. Persons with influenza should be considered potentially contagious (able to spread disease) for up to 7 days after illness onset.
If you recover very quickly and believe that perhaps you did not have H1N1 you may be cleared to return to work before 7 days through EHS (call ext 2323).
Since most people do NOT require medical care, the medical documentation typically required for absences greater than 3 days is not necessary.
If You Are In a Group That is at Higher Risk for Complications From Influenza
Serious illness or complications from influenza infection is more likely in young children, the elderly (over the age of 65), pregnant women, and those with chronic heart, lung (e.g. asthma), kidney, liver, Page 2 of 2 22 Sep 09, Infection Control
blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems (e.g. taking immunosuppressive medications, infected with HIV).
If you are in a high risk category, NMVAHCS can provide anti-viral treatment. This medication may help prevent influenza-like illness or prevent complications. Call EHS at ext 2323 to discuss possible treatment. If anti-viral medication is indicated, the treatment must be started as soon as possible after the onset of illness.
If treatment is indicated, Employee Health will provide instructions about how and when to pick up the medication. It is permitted to have someone else pick up your medication, but they will need to have your ID card with them. Some doses are available in the CBOCs for timely access for high-risk CBOC staff.
If you are NOT in a high risk category, treatment with anti-virals is not recommended.
Other Related Frequently Asked Questions:
What if I am well but someone in my family or another close contact has H1N1 or an influenza-like illness? If someone in your household or a close contact is sick with influenza-like illness you may continue to work and are NOT required to stay home. We ask that you monitor your health closely. The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1 to 7 days, and more likely 1 to 4 days.
What if I am well but need to stay home to take care of someone else who has influenza-like illness? If you need to stay home to care for the ill person refer to the information on the Care of Influenza at Home Instructions (Sep 09)
What should I do if influenza symptoms start while I am at work? If you develop a fever and other influenza symptoms while you are at work, report to your supervisor. Your supervisor will arrange to have you relieved of duties, have you put on a surgical mask, take you to EHS if necessary or have you go home.
What should I do if I am exposed to someone at work who has influenza-like illness? Once influenza is circulating widely in the community, it is difficult to determine individual exposures as persons will be exposed in multiple settings. However, report unprotected exposures to respiratory secretions from a patient with influenza-like illness to EHS.
I am in a health group that is high-risk, can I get treatment so that I don’t get influenza? Influenza vaccination with both the seasonal and pandemic vaccines is the best protection against influenza infection. Antiviral medication will not be available to prevent influenza infection but if you become ill and are at high-risk for complications, antiviral treatment is available through EHS.
I am in a health group that is high-risk, can I be re-assigned to work in a low-risk area (i.e. without contact with patients will influenza-like illness or without direct patient contact)? Re-assignments are not recommended at this time. This guidance is based on the finding that disease severity with pandemic influenza is comparable to that of seasonal influenza. Be sure to follow all Infection Control recommendations such as respiratory hygiene and isolation precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
For more information Contact Infection Control at ext 4551
note: information on the above article is from VAMC