Local businesses learn about H1N1 virus

With the threat of the H1N1 virus growing, local business owners had the opportunity to learn more about the virus and how to prevent its spread.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Local Emergency Planning Commission, the SEK Multi-County Health Department and Mercy Health Center, hosted an informational meeting at Fort Scott Community College for local business owners concerning the H1N1 virus.

Alice Maffett, Public Health Nurse with SEK Multi-County Health Department, and Mary Wynn, Mercy Health Center, discussed the potential dangers being faced by the H1N1 virus.

"It is serious, it's something we need to take seriously," Wynn said.

A large part of physical contact in a business setting is the hand shake, which Maffett said should be discouraged. In lieu of the hand shake, officials are recommending the bumping of elbows to minimize hand-to-hand contact between individuals. Also discussed was social distancing. Wynn said the H1N1 virus can be transmitted through the air up to six feet.

Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers also addressed those in attendance to inform them of planning measures which the county, schools, and local communities are taking in the event of an outbreak. Jeffers said that employers should plan to have 40 percent of their employees out of the office at one time as a result of the virus. He also recommended sending sick employees home because on person is likely to infect two others.

"If they come sick, send them home," Jeffers said.

Wynn stressed the importance of employees keeping their hands clean and cleaning them often. She recommended business place signs with proper hand washing techniques posted. In addition, she recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizes containing 62 percent alcohol.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Center for Disease Control recommend the following recommendations for businesses:

* Sick employees should stay home.

* Sick employees should be advised to go home.

* Encourage employees to wash their hands often.

* Encourage employees to cover their coughs and sneezes.

* Clean surfaces and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact.

* Encourage employees to get vaccinated. (See sidebar)

* Protect employees who are at higher risk for complications of flu.

* Prepare for increased numbers of employees absences due to illness in employees and their family members and plan ways for essential business functions to continue.

* Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps.

* Prepare for the possibility of school dismissals or temporary closure of child care programs.

According to Alice Maffett, Public Health Nurse with SEK Multi-County Health Department, the best way to prevent being infected with the N1H1 virus is to get vaccinated, however receiving the vaccine will not be as easy as receiving the seasonal flu vaccine.

The federal government is scheduled to send the first shipment of the virus to each of the states on Sept. 30, according to Maffett. She said the state is planning on getting the vaccine distributed to the counties as soon as possible.

The first shipment will contain approximately 500 doses of the live vaccine which will be distributed to children between 6-months-old and 10-years-old and select health care workers, according to Maffett. She said the vaccine will be given to the children because they will require two separate vaccines. The health care workers who will receive the vaccine first will likely be those who work with pregnant women, newborns, and children less than 6 months old.

Vaccination priority will be given to pregnant women, health care workers, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, children between 6-months-old and 24-years-old, and People 25-64-years-old with underlying medical conditions.

All vaccinations are voluntary, Maffett said she will have parental consent forms for middle school and high school students to receive the vaccination without their presence. She added, children younger than middle school will need a parent present.