Health and Safety

Health Officials predict that it is likely there will be a rapid rise in the number of cases of Swine Flu in the UK, especially as the virus is more infectious than normal flu. However, the symptoms are usually relatively mild. Most people will feel unwell for a few days before making a full recovery. People with underlying health problems can become very ill.

However, there is no reason to panic and people who are well should continue to go to work as normal even if someone in their building has fallen ill with swine flu; the risk to colleagues from this type of occupational contact is very low.

People at Risk

The only people at risk are those who have:

• recently been in Mexico and certain places in America (for example, Texas, New York or California) since about 28 March 2009 and have developed flu-like symptoms.
• been in contact with anyone confirmed to have swine flu.

General Information

People who develop flu-like symptoms but have not visited affected countries, or visited them over one week ago, and have not been in contact with anyone who has swine flu, are unlikely to be at risk of developing swine flu.

The most effective way to prevent the spread of a virus is to practise good personal hygiene. Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible, and cleaning your hands as soon as you can are important actions that can help prevent the spread of germs.

BT has decided that their people should not travel to Mexico on business until further notice.

Anyone that has returned from a trip to an area with human to human spread (currently only Mexico), should return to work as normal unless they – or a member of their travel party – have developed flu-like symptoms. The symptoms to look out for within a week of return would be fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Anyone with these symptoms should seek urgent medical advice and stay away from work until cleared by your doctor.