Durban - Flu season is upon us and the workplace becomes a potential danger zone. As flu-stricken colleagues struggle to work, confined spaces and limited fresh air turn the office into a breeding ground for germs.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people with flu can spread it to others up to about 1.8m away, mainly by droplets made when they cough, sneeze or talk. Touching surfaces or objects, then touching your mouth also helps spread the virus.
The flu virus is associated with about 36 000 deaths and half a million hospitalisations every year and is to blame for 40 million days of missed work worldwide annually, and yet a recent online survey found that 84 percent of employees admitted going to work sick.
You can be infected with flu a day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick, explains pharmacist Liezl van Tonder.
“Flu symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body, so you may pass on the virus to someone else before you realise you are sick, therefore it is important to boost your immune system and protect yourself over the flu season.
“Wash your hands often. This is especially important before eating, and after using the toilet and shared equipment, shaking hands and being outside,” she says.
“Keep some waterless hand sanitiser at your desk or in your bag so you can avoid visiting the bathroom frequently.
“Germy hot spots include taps, door handles and your office keyboard, mouse and coffee machine. Give objects you touch often a once-a-week wipe to disinfect,” she adds. “By doing this you may avoid getting germs and spreading any you may have.
“Wash your coffee cup with hot, soapy water. Rinsing is not sufficient to remove contamination. Limit your visits to the office kitchen as it is a breeding ground for the flu.”
She recommends boosting your immune system. “It is the best way to take pre-emptive measures to ensure your immune system is in top form. When our immune systems are robust and the viral exposure is relatively limited, we shrug off any attacks. But when the viral contact is repeated and quite heavy, or when our immune systems are compromised, for instance at the change of season, or in the cold of winter, we succumb.”
She suggests a maintenance plan of an immune booster, usually two capsules a day with food and at least half a glass of water, for eight weeks. “Give it a break for a week and then start again. Choose a supplement with a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants that contains highly-rated boosters provided by nature.”
She says boosters reduce susceptibility to cold and flu infection and aid in recovery by reducing the duration and severity of colds and flu.
According to Van Tonder, plenty of sleep is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the winter, as well as eating a healthy, balanced diet, keeping hydrated and exercising.
“If a co-worker shows signs of the flu, politely ask them to go home and if they don’t, keep your distance.
“If you get sick, stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Don’t go to the office unless you absolutely have to.
“Ensure you limit the spread of germs, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and ensure you throw it away. One sneeze can spray up to 3 000 infectious droplets into the air.
“Consider having the flu shot. This is an effective way to stop flu transmission and maintain productivity. Work absenteeism could be reduced by as much as 78 percent with vaccination.
“The journey to good health begins with the right choice, so ensure your body gets the essential building blocks you need for healthy immune function.
“In healthy adults, colds and flu bugs are often no more than an inconvenience. But they can make you vulnerable to more sinister things, especially respiratory tract infections.” - Daily News
* For more information visit: www.pharmachoice.co.za