Instructions for prevention of the spread of infection at home during (pre-) pandemic Influenza

If you have recently been in a country where the disease influenza is endemic or you might have had contact with a patient suffering from influenza and/or if you are ill with symptoms that might fit those of an infection from the influenza virus then you need to determine whether or not you are carrying the influenza virus. You will need to undertake a medical examination, which may include some medical tests. 

Rules for patients to adhere to in order to contain/prevent the spread of the influenza virus

Rules for healthy members of the household/family with an influenza case at home

As long as the results of the evaluation are not known you will need to adhere to a certain amount of rules.  These rules are of the highest importance, as they will assist in minimising/avoiding the possible spread of the influenza virus. If your examination determines that you are likely to be infected with the influenza virus you should adhere to the following rules until 7 days after the fever has passed. 

When the examination determines that your symptoms are being caused by a cause other than the influenza virus the rules below will no longer apply. If you have any questions please contact your local Shell Health Services.

• Stay in a separate room in your house (e.g. your bedroom), which you will only leave for bathing & toilet purposes.  Keep the door to the room closed.  This room will need to have a window and will need to be ventilated daily.  You will stay in this room alone as much as  possible and you will sleep here as well. 
• If any care providers or family members enter the room you should be wearing a mouth & nose mask (ideally a FFP2 mask, if not available a surgical mask).  If you are unable to then the person entering the room should wear a surgical mask. 
• Limit the amount of contact you have with others as much as possible.
• When leaving the room for bathing and toilet purposes please wear a mouth & nose mask.
• When taking off the mouth & nose mask please do this by grabbing the elastic band around your ears. Do not touch the main filtering body of the mask!
• Except for medical care providers, people who do not live with you should not enter your house
• Any healthcare providers/GP should be wearing a mouth nose mask.
  

• Wash your hands regularly especially after sneezing, coughing and contact with bodily fluids.  If your hands are not visibly dirty using hand alcohol will suffice in place of washing your hands.
• Only use your own cutlery, towels, bed linen and clothes etc.
• Only use your own soap, hand alcohol and thermometer.
• Rubbish/trash such as tissues, gloves and mouth & nose masks need to be disposed of in closed plastic garbage bags.  (Your local refuse collector can collect your rubbish as per normal)
• Try not to cough or sneeze when other people are around you and cover your month and nose with a tissue when you are sneezing or coughing.  Only use tissues once (do not use handkerchiefs) and dispose of them immediately, then wash your hands or rub them with hand alcohol.
  

Please call your medical provider/GP if you have an increased need to cough, if you are having breathing difficulties or if your temperature rises.

A person in your household may have influenza.  He or she may be contagious to others.  Listed below are a few rules that can help prevent the spread of disease.  It is important that you adhere to these rules so if you have any questions please contact your local Shell Health Services.

If you develop a fever, (i.e. a body temperature higher than 38 degrees C), a headache, muscle ache, diarrhea, coughing or if experience difficulty in breathing please call your GP or your local Shell Health Services.

• Do not enter the room the patient is in if you can avoid it.
• Should you need to enter the room always wear gloves and a surgical mask if the patient is not able to wear one himself.
• Upon leaving the room dispense of your gloves, and your mask.  When taking off the mask please do this by grabbing the elastic band around your ears. 
  Do not touch the main filtering body of the mask!
• After you have dispensed of the gloves and mask clean your hands with hand alcohol.
• People who do not live with you should not enter your house, except for medical care providers.
• Try to avoid contact with the patient if possible.

• Wash your hands regularly especially before you are put on and after you take off your gloves and month & nose mask.  If your hands are not visibly dirty using hand alcohol will suffice.
• If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.  Only use tissues once (do not use handkerchiefs) and dispose of them immediately, then wash your hands or rub them with hand alcohol.
• As long as you are not suffering from any health complaints you can adhere to your normal daily routine. Voluntary home confinement of healthy contacts may be indicated depending on pre-pandemic stage (refer to WHO public health intervention guideline)
• Self-health monitoring and reporting ill will be required during certain pre-pandemic stages and during the pandemic (refer to WHO public health intervention guideline).
• Travel to unaffected areas (depending on phase of the pandemic) may need to be deferred
• When handling bed linen or clothing from the patient (e.g. putting them in the washing machine) always wear gloves.  The wash should be completed at 60 degrees C or above using laundry detergent.  When it is clean, this bed linen and clothing can be used by others.
• Rubbish/trash such as tissues, gloves and masks need to be disposed of in closed plastic garbage bags.  (Your local refuse collector can collect your rubbish as per normal).
• When the patient has recovered or has been transferred to a hospital the room where the patient has been accommodated should be cleaned with a normal disinfectant while wearing gloves.  Visibly dirty items or services should be cleaned first with a normal disinfectant and then wiped with 70 percent alcohol.
  

If you have any questions regarding the above please contact your local Shell Health Services.