When tiny terrorists come knocking, can you afford to stay home when you get the flu? Do you have insurance? Is you job secure? Is your boss sympathetic to the larger picture of workplace health and it’s effect on PUBLIC HEALTH? The United States is talking about declaring a Public Health Emergency … will that make you stay home, if you have one? Will you loose your job? This is where the Federal Government must set solid guidelines for all Public Health issues, like it or not. OR, we can all move to Nebraska!

Where is Homeland Security? If potential Pandemic is at the doorstep, the condition of the “Homeland” seems obvious. The sad state of US health care availability, thanks to prior administration policies of health care for the privileged, has come back to bite us in the ass.

“This is an H1N1 strain of influenza A. (Credit: Dr. E. Palmer; R.E. Bates)”

For the USA, the decision to make sick employees stay home is ultimately left to the employer. Federal employees have guidance from federal agencies who make the rules for workplace safety. But, small business has no official guidance and can rely solely on its own common sense and ethics. This is not always a good arrangement, especially with workers paranoid about loosing their jobs. Some other countries have made preemptive arrangements for addressing outbreaks, but it is unclear exactly what the US plans to enforce. Emphasis lies on the “recommendations” from agencies like CDC and HHS. It is left to states and counties for actions. Is this really practical when the issue has no borders or political divides? The paranoia in North America has spread like its own pandemic … economic paranoia, employment paranoia, inadequate health resources paranoia and now a tiny terrorist called ‘VIRUS’ has caused paranoia to become a PLURAL!

CDC: Swine flu viruses in U.S. and Mexico match

• Swine flu found in U.S. is same that killed at least 68 in Mexico
• The latest U.S. case of swine flu occurred in California, the CDC says
• Eight cases of the strain of swine flu have been confirmed in humans in the U.S.

Mexico warns no kissing as 81 dead in swine flu outbreak

• WHO warns countries to look out for “unusual” outbreaks of flu
• New Zealand quarantines 22 students, 3 teachers with swine flu symptoms
• Officials urge Mexicans to avoid large crowds, kissing in greeting

Mexico flu sparks worldwide fear

Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to contain a new strain of the swine flu virus that has killed 81 and prompted fears of a global pandemic. People are being urged to stay at home and maintain strict personal hygiene. Many schools, public buildings, bars and restaurants have been closed.

The Mexican government, which has faced criticism for what some see as a slow reaction to this outbreak, is now taking an increasingly hard line to try to contain the virus, says the BBC’s Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City. Public buildings have been closed and hundreds of public events suspended.

Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation. They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.

SNAP ANALYSIS-New swine flu likely widespread, experts say … the new strain of H1N1 has the potential to become a pandemic strain because it does spread easily and does cause serious disease.

Texas family quarantined after son contracts swine flu

• Texas teen is one of eight in U.S. diagnosed with swine flu
• Teen’s family ordered to stay away from public
• Dozens in Mexico have died from same strain of swine flu found in U.S.
• Officials say new strain has resisted some antiviral drugs

CDC Advisory: Swine Influenza (Flu)

HHS Swine Flu Investigation

Federal Response Stages

State and Local Government Planning & Response Activities

Workplace Planning

Not all of the employment laws referenced apply to all employers or all employees, particularly state and local government agencies. For information on whether a particular employer or employee is covered by a law, please use the links provided for more detailed information. This information is not intended for federal agencies or federal employees — they should contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for guidance. As an overall matter, employers should be guided in their relationship with their employees not only by federal employment law, but by their own employee handbooks, manuals, and contracts (including bargaining agreements), and by any applicable state or local laws.

• Could an organization be held liable if their employees or customers contract pandemic influenza while working at or visiting its place of business?

• Could employers be held liable if employees are injured while teleworking?

• Can employers close their place of business to employees or customers known to have contracted or to have been exposed to pandemic influenza?

  

• What kinds of information should be conveyed to employees to prepare them for the issues that are likely to be of concern to them should a pandemic occur? What is the best way to communicate this information?
  

• What changes should be made, if any, to employee travel and what should be done to ensure employees living abroad are prepared?

• Should employers encourage employees to obtain seasonal flu vaccines and offer them in the workplace?
• Socialized Medicine, No Medicine or Someone Else’s Medicine
• Corrupt Medicine Is Not A Panacea - No Medicare Oversight
• Your Profile Determines Your Insurability But Inmates Get Free Health Care
• Purses Tighten, Small Business Suffers, Families Budget
• Humans, Economics and “the law of unintended consequences”
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Privacy Issues
• Workplace Benefits
• Workplace Safety and Health Issues
• Unemployment Issues and Financial Assistance
• Private Sector Workplace Issues

BossKitty has brought attention to the consequences US Health Care disparity before. The issue is, the uninsured become liabilities when a contagion erupts. Without medical attention, the US has guaranteed a health crisis that effects the whole population, except the privileged who can pay for treatments anywhere in the world. Check out previous opinions:

• Socialized Medicine, No Medicine or Someone Else’s Medicine
• Corrupt Medicine Is Not A Panacea - No Medicare Oversight
• Your Profile Determines Your Insurability But Inmates Get Free Health Care
• Purses Tighten, Small Business Suffers, Families Budget
• Humans, Economics and “the law of unintended consequences”