MEDEX's Swine Flu Updates

Swine Flu Quarantines

Note to Travelers: While the media blitz related to H1N1, or swine flu, has slowed down, the spreading of the virus has not. In an effort to further control the spread of the virus, several countries, including China, South Korea, and Japan, have quarantined travelers, even if they have not shown any symptoms of the disease. In some cases, airline passengers have been quarantined for six to eight days for sitting near an individual who exhibited H1N1 symptoms on their flight.

Before you leave on your next trip, check to see if your destination country is likely to use quarantine measures to limit the spread of the H1N1 virus. While you cannot necessarily control who you sit next to on a plane, you can take proper precautions to avoid catching the disease – frequent hand washing, using bacterial wipes to sanitize your area of the airplane, and avoiding close contact with a traveler showing symptoms.

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In recent days, there have been many reports of the “swine flu,” or H1N1 influenza virus, affecting individuals around the world, but particularly in Mexico and the United States. Other countries are also reporting cases of the disease, spread through human-to-human contact.

While some of the swine flu cases in Mexico have been severe, most of the U.S. cases of the swine flu have been mild. Often, hospitalization is not required, and victims experience symptoms similar to seasonal influenza (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue). Historically, swine flu infections have caused few deaths.

If you do not come into contact with travelers from Mexico, or you are not or have not traveled to Mexico yourself, regular flu precautions should provide adequate protection. This includes avoiding close contact with people showing flu-like symptoms, frequent hand washing, and other good health habits.

MEDEX advises individuals and organizations to follow local public health recommendations until this swell of cases subsides. We are continually monitoring the situation. It is a rapidly changing situation and MEDEX will provide information as it becomes available.

Other pandemic information is available at MEDEX’s Pandemic Planning website, www.medexassist.com/pandemic. Here, you can find relevant  governmental procedures for pandemics and business continuity advice.

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