Pandemic Flu - Kitsap Public Health District

Returning to Work—Guidance for Employers
When should workers who have been ill with influenza return to the
workplace? This document provides an overview of influenza symptoms,
criteria for employee return, and important qualifications for use of this
information during a pandemic flu.
I n f l u e n z a V i r u s
How it spreads—Influenza viruses are spread from person to person primarily through respiratory droplet
transmission (e.g., when an infected person coughs or sneezes in close proximity, normally 3 feet or less, to
an uninfected person). The virus may also be spread through contact with infectious respiratory secretions
on the hands of an infected person or by touching objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus.
Incubation & Infection—The typical incubation period for influenza is 1—4 days, with an average of 2 days.
Adults can be infectious from the day before symptoms begin through approximately 5-7 days after illness
onset. Children can be infectious for 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Severely immunocompromised
persons can be infectious for weeks or months.
C u r r e n t C r i t e r i a f o r R e t u r n i n g t o W o r k
Workers who have become ill with influenza should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever
(100° Fahrenheit or 37.8° Celsius or greater ) is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine and
regardless of whether or not antiviral medications are used.
This guidance does not apply to health care settings where the exclusion period continues to be for 7
days from symptom onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer.
GUIDANCE IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING. Check for updates at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Upon returning to the work environment, employees should continue to follow cough etiquette and hand
washing protocols.
C r i t e r i a f o r P a n d e m i c I n f l u e n z a
Experts do not know whether the mode of transmission, incubation period, or contagious period of
pandemic strains of the influenza virus will remain similar to those of seasonal influenza (recurring yearly).
Because of this, employers must be vigilant for specific recommendations from Public Health during an
influenza pandemic regarding management of illness in the workplace, including when it is safe for
workers to return to the work environment after illness with influenza.
M o r e I n f o r m a t i o n
Kitsap Public Health District www.kitsappublichealth.org
Jefferson County Public Health www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org
Clallam County Health & Human Services www.clallam.net/HealthServices/
Washington State Department of Health www.doh.wa.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
Public Health working to prevent the spread of disease
Region 2 Clallam, Jefferson & Kitsap Counties
Rev 3/01/2012 (KCHD 08/14/09)