Guidance for Tourism Businesses during pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is highly contagious and while it is mild in most cases – and people are making rapid and full recoveries - it can be severe in some. Symptoms of pandemic influenza are similar to seasonal influenza. This includes fever with cough and/or sore throat and other symptoms such as fatigue, headache, muscular aches, joint pains, rigors or chills. In addition, some people may also suffer vomiting and diarrhoea.

Minimise the spread in your business

The three most important measures to protect you, your staff and your guests are:
  • Washing hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds and dry them well. Alcohol-based hand rubs can also be used, particularly if regular hand washing is difficult.
  • Covering coughs and sneezes - cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of used tissues in a bin. If you don’t have a tissue, you should cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve at an elbow – not your hands. Wash your hands afterwards.
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are unwell with flu symptoms. People should a metre or more away from ill people to reduce the spread of infections.

Staffing

Because it is highly contagious and more people are likely to get this flu than normal seasonal influenza, there could be significant disruptions to business while staff are off sick, or caring for sick family members.

In general, staff who are sick should stay at home for seven days or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This will reduce the spread of infection to other staff members and guests.

Staff with influenza like symptoms who come to work using medicines that mask the infection - by suppressing the symptoms of fever or cough with medication such as paracetamol or pseudoephridrine, are still infectious and may pass the virus to other staff and customers.

Some people are at higher risk of having severe complications if they are infected with pandemic influenza. These include pregnant women, indigenous Australians and people with lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, morbid obesity and immunosuppression. If people in these groups develop symptoms that might be influenza they need to quickly seek advice from their health care provider.

Guests

If you have a guest who becomes unwell, help them to get in touch with a health care provider in your area. If your guest is advised to contact a GP or medical centre, encourage them to phone first, not just turn up. Many people in this situation will be advised to simply stay put and care for themselves with rest, fluids and paracetamol for fever.

Guests who are ill should be encouraged to stay in their room as much as possible, and be advised to wear a surgical mask when others are in the room, and stay at least one metre distant from others at all times.

Quarantine and isolation

Voluntary home isolation is recommended for all people with influenza-like illnesses. In regions where there are only a few cases of disease, local health authorities may choose to limit the introduction and spread of disease by asking people who have been in contact with an infected person to go into voluntary home quarantine. Check your local health authority for information on quarantine and isolation.

Impact on events

Cancellation of large events, such as sporting or cultural events is unlikely because the disease is mild in most people. However, event organisers may choose to cancel or defer some events for commercial reasons.

Cleaning

If a guest is diagnosed with pandemic influenza, the guest’s room should be cleaned daily with a neutral detergent as per your normal cleaning routine. Cleaning staff should wear rubber gloves and make sure they clean their hands well with soap and water after removing their gloves.

When the guest checks out of their room, clean all surfaces in the guest’s immediate environment, including bathroom, with a neutral detergent followed by a disinfectant. Rooms can be used immediately following cleaning.

Daily cleaning with a neutral detergent is appropriate for public areas in the hotel as well as other common areas such as tour buses. You might consider more frequent cleaning for frequently touched surfaces such as the reception desk, lift call buttons, handrails and handles.

What’s happening at airports

Border measures are continuing but now have a focus on providing information to incoming passengers about what to do if they become unwell. The routine measures for managing arriving international passengers who are unwell are still in place.

Additional Resources

Guidance provided in the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (2008) has been updated to reflect the moderate severity of this influenza. The PROTECT phase focuses on identifying the people in whom disease may be severe and providing medical care and interventions to reduce likely suffering.

Useful guidance documents and plans


Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2008
Business Continuity Guide for Australian Business - this document aims to help Australian businesses consider what impact a human influenza pandemic might have on their businesses, and to help them take appropriate actions to prepare themselves.
A Kit for Small Businesses - including a Pandemic Planning Checklist for Small Businesses, and 10 steps you can take to be better prepared for a pandemic
Pandemic Planning in the Workplace (PDF) - developed by the Australian Government, state, and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association
Business Continuity Planning - (Qld Government)
World Health Organization Pandemic (H1N1) 2009