Q: How long should you stay home when you have the flu? Do you still have to stay at home when you are feeling better?
A: It is tempting to go back to work as soon as you feel better, especially if you are paid by the hour and do not get paid sick leave. Unfortunately there are people who go to work even if they have an infectious illness. They may feel they are indispensable and hate to take any time off, but they do not consider that they may spread the virus to many other people, resulting in more staff being lost to the organization.
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Health-care workers need to be most careful, because they risk spreading the illness to already sick individuals who could get serious complications.
People infected with the H1N1 flu virus can pass on the illness to others even a day before they are showing any symptoms themselves. After becoming sick, stay home for at least seven days, even if feeling well enough to work.
Health authorities are not in agreement over the time that a flu victim remains contagious. Younger children may transmit the infection for longer periods of time, perhaps due to their habit of touching everything they see and not covering their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze.
Just to remind you, the symptoms of this flu are fever, muscle and joint pains, sore throat, headaches, general fatigue and a dry cough. Some people may also suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. If you think you have the flu, phone your doctor’s office or local health unit.
