Risks

Why should there be a Pandemic?

Our Parents and Grandparents will recall previous Flu Pandemics; the last was 1968 and was preceded by Pandemics in 1957 and 1918. All of these pandemics have originated from Bird Flu and In the case of the 1918 pandemic it left over 50 million people dead and lasted over 18 months coming in waves each being more deadly than the last. Most experts now agree that we are due another Flu Pandemic.

Swine Flu H1N1

The swine flu virus H1N1 which recently received immense global news coverage is most likely to become the next global flu pandemic. The H1N1 virus strain originates from a combination of bird, swine and human flu viruses to create an entirely new strain of flu virus. The World Health Organisation is very concerned about this virus because it is entirely new - therefore people have no natural immunity against it and a vaccine has yet to be created. Flu viruses are highly capable of evolving or mutating into more deadly strains, especially through waves of human transmission typical in pandemics.

How would the virus spread between people?

In the case of a pandemic the virus would be passed from one person to another by minute water droplets being expelled through coughing and sneezing. (See illustration) The virus generally enters your body via your mouth and nostrils through general inhalation or through the soft tissue of your eye.

A secondary hazard is that these minute water droplets gather on surfaces and can remain infectious for several hours. If your hands touch these surfaces they will become infected and it’s only a matter of time before you will touch your face and the virus will enter your body. Direct contact with infectious water droplets through inhalation usually guarantees infection. The infected droplets can remain infectious for several hours on surfaces such as seats and handles etc. and will infect your hands on contact.                                Dr John Oxford, Virologist Surely we can have a vaccination against Swine Flu? It’s not that simple, as the genetic make up of the Pandemic strain has to be identified and this can only happen once the Pandemic has begun. Then it will take at least 6 months for the vaccine to be made and distributed. See our 6 Month risk period (World Health Organisation estimates)

What would our life be like in a Pandemic?

The UK government are predicting up to 50% general absenteeism from work as people fear commuting and are forced to stay at home to look after sick relatives or children. Many schools and institutions will have to close as the Government bans the meeting of groups of people The result would see you and your family retreating to the relative safety of your home in order to ‘ride out’ the Pandemic. Flu Pandemics usually last for up to 18months and you and your family will need to protect yourselves for at least 6 months while a vaccination is made and a program is organised for its distribution.

Pandemic Flu: Commuting Risks for Employees

Air travel

In the modern world the front line for the immediate spread of a Flu Pandemic will be a crowded international aeroplane. In 1918 the pandemic spread was directly traced to the cities along the railway routes which were the major form of transport at the time.

How do I catch Flu on an Aeroplane?

The nature of an aeroplane environment makes you more vulnerable to infection, constantly re-cycled air being blown over your head, contact with people from a diverse background and a high volume of people using limited facilities such as lavatories. In a pandemic the virus would be passed from one person to another by minute water droplets being expelled through coughing and sneezing. The virus generally enters your body via your mouth and nostrils through general inhalation or through the soft tissue of your eye.

"Direct contact with infectious water droplets through inhalation usually guarantees infection"
      Dr John Oxford, Virologist

Coughing and sneezing from a sick passenger not only contaminates the air but also any surfaces that these water droplets land on. Seats and handles suddenly become highly hazardous to touch as the virus remains active for several hours. Once your hands touch the virus it is inevitable at some point you will touch your face.
An air hostess who attends to the sick passenger would risk being infected and could easily spread the virus quickly all over the plane through hand contamination. When the sick passenger uses the lavatory, this area will become a highly infectious zone and any passengers sharing the facilities will be at high risk of infection. During the SARS outbreak in 2003 it became commonplace to see airline passengers with respirator masks and adopting a hygiene regime of thorough hand cleaning.

The Tube, Train and Bus Travel:

Commuting at rush hour on a crowded tube train or bus leaves us highly vulnerable to possible infection. In this enclosed environment a sick passenger sneezing and coughing can spread the virus over a wide area. Not only is the air contaminated but also are the surfaces that the water droplets land on. Seats and handles suddenly become highly hazardous to touch as the virus remains active for several hours. Once your hands touch the virus it is inevitable at some point you will touch your face.

You will need to protect your business in a pandemic with our protection equipment (see Flu Packs) together with a robust hygiene regime

It’s unrealistic that you and your employees can remain at home for a full 6 months in order to remain safe. There are some simple measures that will really help to protect your business in a pandemic. Firstly you must turn your business into a personal quarantined area, creating a ‘no tolerance’ approach to poor hygiene and ensure that everyone entering your business wipes their feet and washes their hands.

1. Respiratory Masks
	When leaving your house ensure that all your family members wear a properly fitting respirator mask. This will prevent inhalation of the flu virus and inhibit your natural instincts to touch your face (for complete protection see our Flu Packs).
2. Nitrile Gloves
	Your hands are potentially one of the biggest hazards in a pandemic. The virus can be picked up on your hands from any surfaces that you may touch outside your home i.e. the Doctors Surgery Counter, the entrance handle at the Hospital, the till at the Supermarket. Nitrile gloves will act as a barrier and again remind you not to touch your face (for complete protection see our Flu Packs).
3. Hand Sanitisers
	Wearing gloves all the time is impractical therefore regular cleansing with a ‘sanitising hand rub’ ensures that your hands are virus free and this can be done without the need for soap and water (for complete protection see our Flu Packs).
4. Eye Protection
	The soft tissue of your eye is susceptible to water droplets containing the Bird Flu virus, therefore anyone coughing or sneezing near you could transmit the virus to you if you eyes are not protected. It is essential that the eye protection fits snugly with the respirator mask to give full protection (for complete protection see our Flu Packs).