Swine Influenza

The recent outbreak of Swine Influenza in the United States and Mexico has resulted in a number of requests for information on how to handle an outbreak in a public facility.  The following information is gathered from the current Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How does swine flu spread? 


Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?


Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?


First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?


Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?


We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

How can we prevent the spread of Swine Flu in our facility?

1.    Anyone with Flu like symptoms should stay home to limit the spread of the infection.
2.    Regular Hand Washing is the single most important preventive measure in preventing the spread of Swine Influenza. Hand washing should be done with soap and warm water, to be effective it is important to wash for 15 to 20 seconds.
3.    When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based gel sanitizers should be used. Mounting dispensers that contain either Hillyard Instant Hand Sanitizer or Purell Sanitizer around a facility and promoting their frequent use will be effective at preventing the spread of the Swine flu.
4.    Swine flu causes illness by entering the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth, avoid touching these areas of your body without first properly washing or sanitizing hands.
5.    Swine influenza can only live outside a host body for about two hours. Hard surface disinfection will be most effective when performed regularly on a commonly touched high volume areas.

Where and How should we disinfect to prevent the spread of Swine Flu?

To prevent the spread of Swine Influenza it is most important to first get a good hand washing and sanitizing program in place. Hard Surface disinfection can be used to also help prevent the spread of the Swine Flu, since this virus is only viable for a short time outside the host body, to be effective disinfection should be performed regularly on specific targeted areas.  When disinfecting use a disinfectant with a claim for effective disinfection of Influenza A.

Hillyard Technical Service
April 2009