Recently, the novel H1N1 influenza, also known as the swine flu, has heightened the focus on preparing a response during an influenza outbreak. This steps below outline procedures to follow when a staff member becomes a victim of an influenza outbreak.
Personal Illness
A staff member with symptoms of influenza, such as fever and/or respiratory illness, should immediately consult a medical doctor for treatment. Anyone with a fever should take sick leave according to the prevailing procedures and should not come back to work. If it is confirmed that a staff member has contracted novel H1N1 he/she should take sick leave and notify his/her supervisor immediately. The supervisor then contacts Personnel who will move forward with additional leave options & Family Medical Leave Act notification, if necessary.
Caring for a family member who is ill
If a staff member’s family/household member has contracted H1N1 flu but the staff member concerned does not have symptoms of the influenza, he/she should notify his/her supervisor immediately. While the staff member concerned will not be required to provide a doctor’s note, he/she may be required to provide supporting information, such as the name of the infected family/household member, and the date when the infected family member was confirmed to have contracted swine flu. The staff member should apply for family sick leave following under the normal procedures. Personnel will move forward with additional leave options & Family Medical Leave Act notification, if necessary. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Personnel Office at 319-273-8245.
All staff members are asked to review the agency’s comprehensive H1N1 plan now available on the staff website under Health and Wellness Resources (user name: aeastaff/password: aea267ia).
The Iowa Department of Health and the Hygienic Lab in Iowa City are only running H1N1 confirmation test on hospitalized persons with influenza like illnesses and those that die during hospitalization. The health department is encouraging people to call their doctor but not to come in unless directed too. The H1N1 is being treated like normal influenza symtoms and treated the same. Staff and their dependents will not get confirmation of H1N1 diagnosis.