Swine Flu Information
Click here to go to the dedicated Government website or ring the free phone number: 0800 1 513 513
Please see the following update on sickness certification as part of the regular Business Advisory Network for Flu (BANF) updates. The documents outline the current sickness certification position and give an indication of how the situation might change in the future:
Sick Cert Comms Employers 210909
Sick Cert Comms Employee 210909
Swine flu - now is the time to prepare your business
The government is tracking confirmed cases of influenza A H1N1 (also known as swine flu) in the UK, which include transmission from person to person inside the UK. Find out the latest number of confirmed cases on the Directgov website - Opens in a new window.
Email your employees the official leaflet
Following the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) level 5 pandemic alert, the government is sending a leaflet to every household in the country about swine flu. It explains how to prevent transmission of the disease and access vital services if a pandemic does occur. You don't need to wait for the leaflet drop - you can get it here right now. Download the NHS leaflet on swine flu from the Directgov website (PDF, 119K) - Opens in a new window.
The more your employees know about how to prevent infection, the more resilient your business will be. If you employ staff, we recommend that you email this leaflet to them right now, and suggest that they forward it to friends and family.
The key prevention messages are:
- always carry tissues
- use clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze
- bin the tissues after one use
- wash your hands with soap and hot water or a sanitizer gel often
- Or in short: "Catch it, bin it, kill it."
Other steps you can take to prepare for swine flu:
Access general swine flu guidance on the Health and Safety Executive website - Opens in a new window.
Download detailed NHS guidance for employers in the workplace from the Department of Health website (PDF, 530K) - Opens in a new window.
Download a pandemic flu checklist from the Cabinet Office website (PDF, 128K) - Opens in a new window.
See the businessLink guide on crisis management and business continuity planning.
Mass gatherings
Currently the government is not advising avoidance of mass gatherings or social events and there are no restrictions in place. This includes sporting events, concerts and other public events.
Pandemic alert levels
The WHO has now upgraded swine flu to pandemic status. Read about the global response to the outbreaks on the WHO website - Opens in a new window.