Reports suggest that influenza cases are on the rise in 2024 as people quickly forget about infection control and keeping germs at home in a post-COVID world.
For workplaces, the spread of the virus can significantly impact operations, as employees take sick leave to recover and productivity takes a hit, so it’s important the risks of influenza are mitigated.
With influenza cases growing, and peak season ahead, let’s look at what it is, how it’s transmitted, and what you can do in the workplace to limit or prevent transmission.
What is influenza?
The flu, as it’s commonly known, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs.
Many who catch the flu will have a milder illness and recover in a week or two, but some people can become very ill, and it can even be fatal.
People who are at higher risk of severe illness are the very young, pregnant women, the elderly, and people who have other underlying illnesses or impaired immunity.
How is influenza transmitted?
Influenza can be transmitted the following ways:
- Breathing in airborne germs when coughs or sneezes are inhaled by others
- Touching contaminated objects, like shared office equipment or machinery, or eating contaminated food
- Skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands
- Contact with body fluids – This mainly applies to healthcare workers, aged care workers, childcare workers or emergency first responders, when saliva, urine, faeces or blood are transferred to another person through cuts, abrasions or the mucus and membranes of the mouth and eyes.
Limiting / preventing transmission
The best approach to infection control in the workplace is to assume that everyone is potentially infectious – you can be infected with the influenza virus and spread it before you develop your own symptoms and feel sick.
You can help prevent transmission in the following ways:
- Hand hygiene – This is important after using the bathroom or blowing your nose, before preparing food, or after using shared equipment. If hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is suitable. Otherwise, use water and soap for at least 15 seconds.
- Masks – use a mask to contain your germs if you have a cough, sore throat or sniffle. This can help prevent the spread of influenza as well as other head cold viruses. Some people may choose to wear a mask in public to reduce their risk of becoming infected.
- Cleaning – regularly washing floors, bathrooms and surfaces with detergents to kill any germs.
- Personal/limited use items – replace cotton, reusable hand towels with paper towel or sterilising hand dryers in bathrooms and avoid sharing of personal items or work equipment where possible. Provide sanitising wipes for hot-desk arrangements.
- Stay at home if you are sick.
Workplace vaccination
Influenza vaccination programs in workplaces can be a cost-effective strategy to reduce sickness and absenteeism.
Research shows that healthy employees vaccinated against the flu take nearly half the number of sick days and have nearly half the number of doctor’s visits compared to their unvaccinated colleagues
There are benefits for employees too – they don’t have to take additional time off to visit their own GP or pay out of their own pocket.
How can Jobfit help?
Jobfit’s occupational health nurses vaccinate nearly 10,000 Australian workers every year – and can vaccinate your workers too.
Request a quote for a workplace vaccination program for your employees.
