Business and industry in Abbeville County may face some challenges this flu season. It's not just the "seasonal flu," but also the novel H1N1 viral strain that potentially can have a serious impact on our local commerce. It is not so much the severity of the symptoms with H1N1, it is the fact that it is highly contagious.

The biggest impact, that local commerce will face, is having a significant number of workers and employees unable to report to their jobs while they are home recuperating, or having to stay with sick children at home. To deal with this business and industry leaders can't simply "wait-and-see," we must be proactive.

Many businesses across Abbeville County have been reviewing and updating their emergency policies since H1N1 surfaced last spring, however many have not considered what plans they need to take. Many companies already have contingency plans in place for larger hazards, but have not considered the impact that wide-spread illness may have on their operations. Adding to the uncertainty for business leaders is how a potential flu outbreak will affect schools, daycare centers, and pres-schools.

One option that should be considered, for those that can, is telecommuting. This is one way to help minimize the spread of this virus. And if a flu outbreak becomes severe, companies may need to reduce face-to-face meetings or cut back on nonessential travel.

Government health officials also acknowledge the possibility that flu outbreaks could occur inside the workplace and are urging employers to take the lead in pushing vaccinations.
Local Officials are strongly suggesting that employers should be lenient towards workers who stay home sick or leave work early due to illness, and seriously consider that any requirement of a doctor's note to prove their illness should be dropped.

Abbeville Area Medical Center is urging that people with flu symptoms not come to the emergency room for several reasons. First, a large number of flu patients arriving at the emergency room could potentially infect other non-flu patients who are there with other major medical problems, and compromise those individuals situation.

Additional information can be obtained from Flu.gov's website, in particular their Business Planning page.

What your business should know about N1H1

Don Peace with SC-DHEC Region 1 makes H1N1 Presentation to Business leaders

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