Measures for protection against the transmission of infection to another person:
- Accommodation of the diseased person in a separate room (home isolation), while the symptoms of the disease do not disappear. The door of the room should be permanently closed.
- Restricting the access of domestic and other persons to the patient’s room (as fewer people take care of him, not allowing visits).
- Avoid pregnant women taking care of a diseased person.
- The patient is wearing a protective mask while another person resides in the room (if there is no protective mask, cover the mouth and nose with a hand or a handkerchief for disposable use, especially when coughing and sneezing).
- Maintenance of airway hygiene and hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and hot water or using wet alcohol-based wipes, especially after coughing and sneezing).
- Maintenance of the hygiene of the room or common premises where the patient is staying, and if there is a possibility and disinfection of these premises (especially the bathroom).
- The eating utensils, unclean laundry, towels, linen and other items (toys in children) that have been used by the affected person must be treated with caution until they are washed (not to touch, if they must not approaching the person). These items need not be cleaned separately, but hot water and detergent should be used and thoroughly rinsed / washed and dried before their reuse.
- Often ventilation of the affected person’s room, as well as other rooms that are commonly used, if any.
- Avoiding transportation of a sick person in the means of public transport, if such a need is indicated (eg during a medical examination, etc.). In such cases, the affected person wears a protective mask – if available, or cover the mouth and nose with a hand or a handkerchief for single use in coughing and sneezing.
- Do not go to work or school for the duration of the illness. An ill person can return to work or school when symptoms of illness disappear.
IF YOU GIVE A CARE TO A PATIENT : (protection measures that apply to close respiratory contacts *):
- Wash hands with soap and water (if available with disinfectant) before and after leaving the patient’s room and after each contact with it.
- Use a protective mask during your stay in the affected person’s room, if available.
- Avoiding direct contact “face to face” with the ill person.
- If possible, use disposable gloves in direct contact with the patient or objects of his near surroundings.
- Often wash your hands with soap and water or wipe your hands with wet alcohol-based wipes, by all members of the family.
- Family contacts monitor their health and the health status of children in the family, and if symptoms similar to influenza (high fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing) occur, immediately seek medical attention.
* Definition of close respiratory contact (WHO):
Close contact is a person taking care of, living in the same household or having direct contact with airway or other body fluids by a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of influenza A / H1N1.
Protection measures should be respected in particular for direct activities that are related to the diseased person, with the potential for contact with airway secretions, and hence the risk of transmission of the infection is considerably greater (eg bathing, feeding, changing )
