“Fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, aches and pains, headaches and fatigue, even nausea, vomiting and diahorrea.”  

Welcome to the joys of the flu.

Whilst not all of us will fall prey to the virus this year, it is important to know how to prevent and manage an outbreak should it occur in the workplace.

Influenza, or the flu as it is more commonly known, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Flu season starts at the beginning of the winter months and continues into spring.
Anyone can be susceptible to the flu, especially persons working in a close environment, as the virus is spread through the respiratory secretions of coughing and sneezing, and is then transferred to other persons via physical contact with an infected surface. 

The best way to protect yourself and others from the flu virus is to wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze, and if you do feel yourself succumbing to the flu, you may need to stay at home to restrict the virus spreading to others.

The NSW Government has developed a useful factsheet for readers of all locations. You can find it here.