We've updated the Pandemic Planning Resource Center on Safety.BLR.com to include information on swine flu. For a complete list of documents to prepare yourself and your workplace, see http://safety.blr.com/resource_centers.aspx?collection=7.

Am I allowed to ask why we're in such a panic when, in the United States, far more people have died from the "seasonal/regular flu" as opposed to the number of people diagnosed with "swine flu" this year alone?

Just a thought...

-Justin

Because it is "new" and how it will behave and/or what it may mutate to is unkown. The seasonal flu is generally predictable.

Ah yes... people are afraid of what they don't know.  Best thing for the public is to not panic and let the experts do what they do.  If thousands and thousands of people start dying (or better yet... turning into zombies ), then it's time to panic.  Hysteria does not prevent a disease.

-Justin

There is only two things we have told our employees regarding the swine flu.

 1. If your sick, stay home!

 2. Wash your hands, and wash them often!

Anything beyond that seems like overkill at this time, IMHO.

I totally agree!  Seeing people walk around with 3M brand N95 respirators just cracks me up.  I've seen that most people don't even wear them correctly (this includes wearing it over the mouth and UNDER the nose).  If I'm going to wear a respirator, I'm getting a North silicone half-mask with HEPA filters.

As for hand-washing... it's a disgrace that people don't do it more often.  Too often do people walk out of the bathroom after doing whatever business and not care about what they could be transferring from their *ahem* to their hands and then onto food, other people, and/or anything else they touch!  It only takes 30 seconds to wash your hands.  It can take weeks to fully be over an illness (assuming it's not a disease that kills you).

-Justin