Health officials have been telling people to avoid contact with others for a day after their fever goes away. The new research suggests they may need to be careful for longer, especially at home, where the risk of spreading the germ is highest.
“You’re probably contagious for about a week,’’ said Dr. Gaston De Serres, a scientist at the Institute of Public Health in Quebec.
Homeland Security recommends that small businesses identify essential operations and have plans for functioning with reduced staffing. The government also says businesses should consider letting employees work from home if they get sick.
Napolitano said small businesses could be particularly vulnerable to a pandemic because they often “have fewer resources, they work with leaner staffs, and absenteeism can be a particular issue.’’
Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control said small businesses may have to change their leave policies to allow employees stay home longer if they become sick. He recommended workers stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever has subsided.
The CDC is preparing for two scenarios: one in which the swine flu remains relatively mild, another in which the virus mutates, becoming more dangerous.
Jernigan said small-business owners should be prepared for both scenarios, though “we haven’t seen any changes that suggest greater severity.’’
About 45 million doses of swine flu vaccine are expected to be available next month.
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