What is Swine Flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by an Influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.  It is an Influenza A virus (H1N1 strain).

How is Swine Flu transmitted among humans?
According to the CDC, Influenza viruses are spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. These Flu viruses usually spread from person-to-person, though sometimes people become infected by touching a surface that has a Flu virus on it and then touching their nose or mouth.

Major health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada agree that hand washing and hand sanitizing with an alcohol-based hand rub are especially critical to minimize the spread of germs during times of illness outbreak.

To encourage occupants in your facility to wash their hands frequently, you can print out and post these  "Wash Your Hands" Signs.

The CDC recommends:

- 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
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth -- germs spread that way

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What other precautions should be taken?
- According to the CDC, Standard Precautions and Droplet Precautions are appropriate.
- Standard Precautions are "designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infections in hospitals"
- Droplet Precautions are applicable for pathogens that can be transmitted by droplets released during coughing, sneezing or talking.
- Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces: a facility should frequently clean and disinfect (utilizing an EPA approved, hospital grade disinfectant) all frequently touched surfaces (light switches, door knobs, hand rails, etc.) and all rest rooms surfaces and fixtures.  The EPA has also posted information on their web site that they believe the currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the 2009-H1N1 flu strain and other influenza A virus strains on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Pro-Link offers many products and programs to help you meet CDC recommendations to help facilities reduce the spread of germs, such as:   A Hand Hygiene Program for elementary schools (including  "Wash Your Hands" and  "Sanitize Your Hands" posters), Touch Free foam and lotion soaps, hand sanitizers, disinfectants and bathroom cleaners.

For more information from Pro-Link, contact a distributor near you , check out our   Literature or contact us if you have additional questions.

For more information about Swine Flu visit these sites:
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm
www.who.int
www.epa.gov
www.hhs.gov
www.epa.gov/oppa