Pregnant Women More At Risk for H1N1, CDC Says
As the traditional flu season comes closer, we're starting to get a much better picture about the virulence of H1N1 - important information for us as individuals, and equally important for business operators who may need to make difficult decisions to ensure the well being of their personnel and their customers.
The latest news comes from the US Centers for Disease Control, which just reported that pregnant women are far more likely to be hit hard by the disease, posing a serious risk for severe illness and death.
According to this article, pregnant women are not more likely to contract the disease - they're just as susceptible as anyone else - but when they do get it, their chances of having a severe bout are magnified.
The CDC recommends that any pregnant women who feel like they're coming down with an illness seek their doctor's care immediately. Business owners who have pregnant employees on staff should also be on the lookout - the flu spreads easily, and if you have one staff member come down with an illness, it's in everyone's best interests to redouble your efforts at hygiene maintenance.
That means reinforcing your emphasis on proper handwashing, using hand sanitizer regularly and encouraging employees who don't feel well to see a physician and avoid coming in to work. Whatever temporary challenges are created by a small staff reduction are well worth it, if only to avoid having your entire staff out of work and endangering the well being of your most valuable assests - your employees.