Swine Flu FAQs
FAQs and General Information
- Health and hygiene
- Advice if you develop flu-like symptoms
- Advice if a colleague falls ill with swine flu
- Reducing cross infection risks in shared work areas
- STUDENT FAQS
Health and hygiene
What hygiene measures should staff and students take to limit the risk of being infected by the flu?
Please follow commonsense and responsible preventative measures:- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Bin your tissue after use.
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before eating.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Stay away from others if you develop flu-like symptoms. Tell your line manager, go home, or stay at home, and telephone your GP.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu will be similar to ordinary influenza: sudden onset of cough or fever (38°C or more). Other symptoms include:- Sore throat
- Headache
- Chills
- Aching muscles
- Difficulty breathing
- Tiredness
How long is the incubation period for swine flu?
The usual incubation period, the time between being infected and falling ill, is 2-5 days. It can be as long as 7 days.How long is someone infectious with swine flu?
Someone can infect others with the swine flu virus from 12 hours before feeling unwell and for 5-7 days from the start of their illness. They are most infectious during the time they have symptoms.How does the infection spread?
Influenza mainly spreads from person to person through breathing in infectious droplets coughed or sneezed out by someone with the infection. The droplets can easily travel a few feet and remain suspended in the air for a short time.The virus can survive for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces. Hands can be contaminated through touching door handles or other hard surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you then touch your mouth before washing your hands you can catch the infection.
Are any special precautions needed for someone who is pregnant?
Pregnant women may be at higher risk of developing complications from swine flu. They should follow the same general hygiene advice as everyone else. If a pregnant woman develops symptoms of flu, it is important they contact their doctor or the N. Ireland Swine Flu helpline as soon as possible, so they can be begin treatment with anti-virals if swine flu is considered likely. There is no need at present for someone who is pregnant to stay off work or to avoid contact with other people at work or study.Advice if you develop flu-like symptoms
What should I do if I develop flu-like symptoms?
If you have some of the symptoms already noted, but no fever, it is unlikely you have swine flu. If you think you might have swine flu, you should contact your doctor or seek advice from the N. Ireland Swine Flu helpline (0800 0514 142). Do not go to your GP’s surgery unless you have been specifically advised to do so.Advice to staff/ students diagnosed with swine flu
If you are a member of staff and you develop swine flu symptoms at work, you should let your manager know you are unwell and go home, do not wait to the end of the working day to do so. If you are a student living in a hall of residence or in shared accommodation, alert a friend or your warden and stay in your room as much as possible. Avoid using kitchens to prepare food at the same time as other students, and wash your hands before leaving your room. If you are in private accommodation, you should stay indoors at home until you have recovered, but please let somebody know of your condition.If you are not currently registered with the University Health Centre or a GP, please do so as soon as possible. To register with another GP, either seek advice from the University Health Centre or find details on the DHSSPSNI website.
How long should I stay off work or study?
You should be able to return to work or study within 5 working days, this may be up to 7 days after your symptoms began or after you complete five days of treatment with Tamiflu, provided your fever has settled and you feel well enough to work. You should not return to work or study earlier in order to reduce the risk of spread to others.Are there changes being made to the Sickness Absence Policy in this period?
No. There are a variety of supports available under current arrangements for sickness leave, dependent leave, compassionate leave and other elements of the College’s range of Family Friendly policies. Keeping Human Resources informed of your circumstances is an important part of all these policies.Someone in my house has just been diagnosed with swine flu. Should I stay off work?
There is no need to stay away from work. You won’t necessarily fall ill with swine flu. However, you should be especially vigilant for symptoms over the next seven days and contact your doctor or the N. Ireland Swine Flu Helpline for advice if symptoms appear.I am off work - do I need a doctor's certificate?
Generally, no. Self certification of illness in staff is permissible for up to 5 working days, this should be sufficient time to recover and become non infectious. If you are off work for more than seven calendar days you will need to send a medical certificate to Human Resources, in line with the College’s Sickness Absence Procedure.I'm due to travel overseas on College business. Should I go?
There is currently no need to delay or cancel travel to countries where swine flu outbreaks are occurring. However, as the situation may change over the next few months, if you are due to travel anywhere else in the world, check the FCO website regularly for advice.Please note that the College’s travel insurer has advised that travel cancellation or curtailment claims pertaining to the current flu outbreak will not be approved, except where the change to travel plans is in response to a warning from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Maintain good hygiene practice, as outlined above, wherever you go.
Advice if a colleague falls ill with swine flu
I'm the manager of a member of staff who has been diagnosed with swine flu. What should I tell my staff and others who may have had contact?
If a member of staff or a student is diagnosed with swine flu, please report this to the University Occupational Health Service (028 9097 5520). If you wish to use e mail (occhealth@qub.ac.uk) please provide the following details of the person affected:- Name
- Department
- Date on which they became unwell
- Home contact details (if known)
A member of staff fell ill at work. Do we need to disinfect the room where they work?
The swine flu virus can survive for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces like desk tops and door handles, but does not become airborne again after settling. If someone has to work at the desk used by the person on the same day as they fell unwell, then the desk top should be wiped over with a cloth moistened with a normal domestic cleaner or detergent. There is no need use a disinfectant.Anyone else using the person’s computer on the same day should wash their hands afterwards.
One of my colleagues has been diagnosed with swine flu. Can I get treatment to prevent me feeling unwell?
No. The Health Protection Agency is no longer providing prophylactic treatment to contacts of people with swine flu except in a few special circumstances not applicable to work. You should continue to follow the hygiene advice about washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes. If you develop flu symptoms, contact your doctor or the N. Ireland Swine Flu Helpline for advice.Reducing cross infection risks in shared work areas
Reception desks
As contact with a visitor is usually quite brief for reception staff, the risk of catching flu from working at a reception desk is low. However, avoid leaning over the desk when talking with visitors. Have tissues available for callers to use if needed, plus a waste bin for them to discard a tissue after use. Wash your hands when you take a break.Shared computers/ hotdesks
Computer keyboards and mice could be contaminated with virus if used by someone with swine flu. The virus can survive for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces. Always wash your hands after using a computer or hot desk that someone else has used on the same day.Staff rooms
Foods and crockery could become contaminated if left out in staff rooms. Store them in cupboards.Wash your hands before preparing any food or eating. Keep food covered.
Wash any cups or crockery that have been left out on worktops before using them, even if they appear clean.
Open plan offices
Most infectious droplets produced when someone with flu coughs or sneezes only travel a few feet so the normal spacing between people sharing an open plan office is sufficient to prevent swine flu spreading easily.The virus may survive on desk tops, door handles and other hard surfaces you may touch so you should wash your hands before eating or drinking.
Make sure you use tissues when you sneeze or cough. Discard them into a waste bin after use.
Advice for students on preparing for an outbreak of swine flu
- Arrange with two of your friends to be flu buddies. A flu buddy is someone who will keep in touch and help you look after yourself if you developed flu. You’ll do the same for them. Make sure you have each other’s phone numbers.
- If you have never formally registered since moving into halls then get registered today. The University Health Centre will be able to offer you advice on registering with a GP – you can contact them on 028 9097 5551.
- Keep in regular touch with your parents to let them know how you are. The College hopes to avoid being inundated with calls from anxious parents.
- If you have moved address since beginning study at the College, update your details on QSIS.
