Swine Flu - Information and Advice

Online, September 3, 2009 (Newswire.com) - We are used to epidemics of 'ordinary' influenza, which occur seasonally, every year, around the world. An epidemic is a widespread outbreak of disease occurring in a single community, population or region.

A pandemic, on the other hand, occurs on a much greater scale, spreading around the world and affecting many hundreds of thousands of people.

One of the diseases to be aware of is pandemic influenza. A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus, which people have no immunity to, emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza. This means everyone is at risk of catching it, this includes healthy adults as well as older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions.

On average there are just three pandemics every century, the last occurring in 1968.

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How does influenza spread?

Influenza viruses are made up of tiny particles that can be spread through the droplets that come out of your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

When you cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth with a tissue, those droplets can spread and others will be at risk of breathing them in.

If you cough or sneeze into your hand, those droplets and the germs in them are then easily spread from your hand to any hard surfaces that you touch, and they can live on those surfaces for some time. Everyday items such as door handles, computer keyboards, mobile and ordinary phones and the TV remote control are all common surfaces where influenza viruses can be found.

If other people touch these surfaces and then touch their faces, the germs can enter their systems and they can become infected. That's how all cold and influenza viruses are passed on from person to person.

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Be prepared

The Government have invested considerable resource in contingency planning for a potential influenza pandemic.

Forfas is Irelands national policy advisory body for enterprise and science and they have produced a pandemic influenza checklist for businesses. This follows the current advice from the world health organisation that countries should be planning for a possible influenza pandemic, and businesses will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to their employees health and safety as far as possible.

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How can we help you?

As a one-source supplier of office products and services, including health protection products, DBC Group can provide you health protection solutions for your business.

Durable Hand Gel Antibacterial 500ml
Sale €11.69 - Save €3.00

Wallace Cameron Sterizone Hand Cleanser Bactericidal 75ml [Pack 6]
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Wallace Cameron Sterizone Hand Cleanser Bactericidal 500ml [Pack 2]
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Carex Liquid Soap 250ml
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More Info: Swine Flu - Information and Advice