Influenza precautions
July 30, 2009
The number of cases of swine flu in Germany has jumped dramatically recently, especially as holidaymakers have returned home with more than just a few photographs. Health experts say that Germans are just as likely to contract swine flu by staying at home as they are by travelling overseas. However, for many German companies, the risk of travel is too great, and some have begun cutting back on business trips.
Husam Azrak, a spokesman at German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, says they have advised their employees to consider whether travel is necessary, and to make use of telephone or video conferences if not. He says employees have also been given the opportunity to stay at home if there is an emergency.
"Stay at home, go to the doctor…and don't come to the office - just in case," Mr. Azrak says.
Deutsche Telekom has also installed several so-called 'hygiene boxes' at the entrance to the canteen in their Bonn headquarters. The small boxes provide an automated squirt of liquid disinfectant when you place your hands inside. Mr. Azrak says the company cannot force its employees to use the boxes, but says many of the 3000 employees in the building choose to do so.
Preventative measures
Other companies are also taking preventative measures. German postal service Deutsche Post is reportedly considering vaccinations for its employees. German bank Landesbank WestLB has told its employees to wash their hands more regularly, and to avoid shaking hands altogether. Other companies have distributed information brochures or set up information hotlines.
When cases of swine flu first broke out, German airline Lufthansa began flying company doctors on all flights between Mexico and Germany – although Lufthansa spokesman Bernd Hoffmann told Deutsche Welle that this is no longer the case. Mr. Hoffmann also said that Lufthansa had informed its employees about swine flu and had prepared a plan in case of an emergency but he did not provide the details.
Be aware, but not afraid
There are currently over 4,000 cases of swine flu in Germany, which Dr. Walter Doellinger, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Health in the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia, says is a number comparable to the amount of people who fall ill from normal influenza during the winter months. Dr. Doellinger says many people die each year from regular influenza, and swine flu, in comparison, is quite mild.
"There is a completely incorrect impression in the media," he says.
However, Dr. Doellinger also says that the number of serious cases of swine flu is expected to rise when the number of cases overall increases later this year with the onset of colder weather.
Dr. Doellinger says hygiene is important when trying to avoid contracting the virus, but special measures, such as the 'hygiene boxes' at Deutsche Telekom, are not really necessary.
"I think you can achieve the same thing with soap," he says. "A disinfectant solution works a little bit better, but in fact the normal hygiene measures are sufficient."
The washing of hands is important he says, as is using handkerchiefs or tissues.
"All the things we should and could be doing anyway," he says.
Author: Clare Atkinson
Editor: Chuck Penfold