WASHINGTON - Federal officials said Monday the owners of small businesses should be prepared to work with fewer employees by the autumn as a pig flu spread across the country.
Department of Homeland Security has issued guidelines for the control of swine influenza for small businesses, which employ about half of workers in the U.S. private sector.
"They play an important role in protecting the health and safety in the country, and its own employees, and also help us reduce the impact of H1N1 pandemic on our economy and our country," Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano told reporters.
Guide, published by the Department of Homeland Security recommends that small businesses identify their main operations and plans to work with reduced staff. The government also says companies should consider letting employees work from home when they are sick.
Napolitano said small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to a pandemic, because they often "have fewer resources, they operate with leaner staffs and absenteeism May be a separate matter."
Monday announced the latest in a series of recommendations that the federal government braces for a potentially toxic outbreak this fall that could hurt businesses by keeping workers at home.
Swine influenza virus has caused over 3,000 deaths, as occurred in Mexico and the United States this year and has become a global epidemic, the World Health Organization. Most of the deaths in the western hemisphere.
Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control, said small businesses have May amend their leave policies to allow employees to stay at home longer when they are sick. It is recommended that workers stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
CDC is prepared for two scenarios: one in which the swine flu is still relatively mild and the other in which the virus mutates and becomes dangerous. Jernigan's small business owners should be prepared for both scenarios, but added: "We have seen no change, indicating greater severity."
Approximately 45 million doses of swine flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and several other companies are expected to be available by mid-October. First in line to receive the vaccine are pregnant women, health professionals and young adults with diseases such as asthma.
Department of Homeland Security has issued guidelines for the control of swine influenza for small businesses, which employ about half of workers in the U.S. private sector.
"They play an important role in protecting the health and safety in the country, and its own employees, and also help us reduce the impact of H1N1 pandemic on our economy and our country," Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano told reporters.
Guide, published by the Department of Homeland Security recommends that small businesses identify their main operations and plans to work with reduced staff. The government also says companies should consider letting employees work from home when they are sick.
Napolitano said small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to a pandemic, because they often "have fewer resources, they operate with leaner staffs and absenteeism May be a separate matter."
Monday announced the latest in a series of recommendations that the federal government braces for a potentially toxic outbreak this fall that could hurt businesses by keeping workers at home.
Swine influenza virus has caused over 3,000 deaths, as occurred in Mexico and the United States this year and has become a global epidemic, the World Health Organization. Most of the deaths in the western hemisphere.
Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control, said small businesses have May amend their leave policies to allow employees to stay at home longer when they are sick. It is recommended that workers stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
CDC is prepared for two scenarios: one in which the swine flu is still relatively mild and the other in which the virus mutates and becomes dangerous. Jernigan's small business owners should be prepared for both scenarios, but added: "We have seen no change, indicating greater severity."
Approximately 45 million doses of swine flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and several other companies are expected to be available by mid-October. First in line to receive the vaccine are pregnant women, health professionals and young adults with diseases such as asthma.
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