Swine flu, otherwise known as influenza H1N1, has, as widely predicted, accelerated as the winter months are now upon us. Businesses were urged to ensure their swine flu preparations are well integrated following the death of 21 people from the virus last week. This comes on top of news that doctors have been told to step up the vaccination campaign after it emerged that only one in ten of those people currently eligible to receive the vaccination had done so.
Regulatory specialist Pauline Munro from lawyers Pinsent Masons LLP said, ‘From a risk-management perspective, businesses shouldn’t neglect swine flu plans they may have put in place earlier in the year. Even though the media coverage of the virus has receded somewhat recently, we are now entering the peak season for flu, highlighted by statistics showing that almost 200,000 people have caught the virus in the last two weeks.
‘As the busy Christmas period begins in earnest this week, employers should consider whether they have adequate cover should staff be away from the workplace. They should ensure employees understand the importance of good hygiene practices and, where appropriate, the vaccination options available, especially in sectors such as retail or hotel and leisure where the next couple of months are particularly busy.’
According to the NHS swine flu infection appears to be slowing, with an estimated 46,000 new cases in the past week, down from 53,000 the week before.
However, the latest figures also show there have been 30 further deaths related to the virus in the same period, the largest jump in deaths since swine flu emerged. This takes the UK death total to 242. This breaks down as 163 in England, 43 in Scotland, 23 in Wales and 13 in Northern Ireland. Hospitalisations also remain high, with 753 people currently receiving hospital treatment. Of these, 154 are in critical care. A large proportion of those in hospital are children under five, a group recently prioritised to receive swine flu vaccinations.
See also our previous story on swine flu covered in The People Bulletin: ‘All penned in?’ 12 May 2009.
The following websites provide a useful update on swine flu and guidance on how to manage it:
The Health Protection Agency
The NHS
Businesslink
The Guardian
Direct Gov