Q : How to protect yourself from the flu A virus (H1N1) and obtain further information on this type of flu pandemic?

A : We strongly recommend you read the pamphlet from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, “Flu A (H1N1): What You Should Know and Do to Protect Your Health and That of Others.”

INO Solutions offers several products that will help you to implement the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux recommendations, such as our virucidal products that will disinfect risk areas (INO-Ek9-4, INO-AES110, INO-AES460), hygiene products for the hands, and disinfectants for use with or without water (INO-DE68941, INO-DE68917, INO-DE68978, INO-DE68241, INO-DE68278, INO-DE68217) that kill 99.9% of germs on the skin.

Consult the document

Q : What should I do if I have flu symptoms?

A : According to the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, the decision you should take varies depending on your situation. As indicated by the severity of your symptoms, the next step varies from getting rest (if you have cold symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, a cough and sore throat) to visiting the emergency room (if you show more serious symptoms such as having a high fever, difficulty breathing, moving or sleeping, major neck stiffness or convulsions). To help you make the right decision, INO Solutions invites you to consult the following PDF pamphlet published by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

Consult the document

Q : What should I do if I am a pregnant student in an educational environment?

A : Pregnant women are slightly more at risk of catching flu A (H1N1). Also, certain severe complications have occurred, particularly in the third trimester of pregnancy and, despite the full recovery of the women affected, it is important for the pregnant student to take certain additional precautions. As for the rest of the population, hand washing is the most important preventive measure. INO Solutions provides products tailored to the educational environment responding to this need. In addition, the pregnant student should avoid frequenting places with large groups of people and, if possible, keep a distance of one to two metres from any individuals around her. Finally, it is important for the pregnant student to consult a doctor as soon as the first flu symptoms appear (fever and cough as well as the slightest sign of the following symptoms: headache, sore throat, muscle soreness, severe fatigue).

The Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport encourages educational establishments to find solutions that will minimize the impact of these recommendations for pregnant students.

Consult the document

Q : Has the new autumn school term been affected by flu A (H1N1)?

A : Very little. The Direction Générale de la Santé Publique recommended maintaining the same preventive measures as those indicated in May, and that school should carry on as usual.

This presents a great opportunity to remind students of the steps they should take to reduce the spread of the virus, such as frequent hand washing with soap and water or with an antiseptic hand wash. INO Solutions offers a full range of products (INO-DE68941, INO-DE68917, INO-DE68978, INO-DE68241, INO-DE68278, INO-DE68217) that comply with this recommendation! Also, the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport recommends that students suffering from flu-like symptoms not attend school until those symptoms disappear so as to minimize the spread of the virus. Finally, schools are asked to send home any students showing flu-like symptoms.

If you are responsible for cleaning at a school, it is recommended that you clean daily, following the Regulations on Occupational Health and Safety. At this stage, several INO products (INO-Ek9-4, INO-AES110, INO-AES460) could make your life easier!

Consult the document

Q : What is preventive withdrawal from the educational environment?

A : On August 28, 2009, the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport published a bulletin specifying that the Directeur National de Santé Publique with the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux had issued a statement regarding preventive withdrawal from schools for workers in the advanced stages of pregnancy. To this end, the attending physician or person in charge at the school where the woman in late-stage pregnancy works must complete a CSST form.

We acknowledge that schools are not obligated to initiate preventive withdrawal of their pregnant workers but maintain that they should set up informational sessions encouraging the latter to consult their doctors so that they may take advantage of the “For a Risk-Free Pregnancy” program.

Consult the document

Q : What is the level of exposure connected with my work environment?

A : Your level of exposure is low if you have minimal contact with the public and other co-workers on the job, such as in an office.

It is average if you have frequent close contact with customers, such as in retail and childcare settings.

It is high for workers at great risk of exposure to known or suspected sources of the pandemic flu, such as healthcare personnel, workers in emergency medical transport of infected patients (EMTs & ambulance attendants), and personnel performing autopsies on infected cadavers.

It is very high for those sampling or handling clinical specimens from patients suspected or known to have the pandemic influenza, such as healthcare staff performing tasks that generate aerosol sprays and laboratory personnel.

Q : Are there risks for contamination through soaps in public toilets?

A : A recent study conducted in 2006 by the University of Arizona’s Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science in the U.S. found that high levels of bacterial contamination had occurred in one quarter of some 541 samples of soap taken from public restrooms in five large American cities. It then concluded that liquid soap systems are currently infected with a variety of bacteria and present potential risks to the health of users.

Consult the document

Q : What is the H1N1 virus (human swine flu)?

A : The H1N1 virus is a strain of the influenza virus that usually affects pigs, but it can also infect humans. Cases among humans have been reported in Canada, Mexico, the United States, and in many other countries.

Q : Which symptoms are associated with the H1N1 virus (human swine flu)?

A : • Symptoms are similar to those of the seasonal flu (influenza): headaches, chills and cough, followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscular pain and fatigue, nasal discharge, sneezing, tearing and throat irritation.

• Both adults and children can experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

• In more serious cases, or among individuals with chronic illnesses, complications can occur, namely pneumonia.

Q : What should I do if I have those symptoms?

A : If you do not feel well, have a high fever, cough and/or sore throat:
• Stay home and avoid going to your workplace, your school or any gatherings.
• Rest, and drink plenty of liquids.
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of it properly.
• Wash your hands frequently and carefully with soap and water, especially after having coughed or sneezed.
• Inform your family and friends of your illness and ask for help when you need to do chores that involve contact with other people, for example shopping.
If you need medical assistance:
• Contact your doctor or health care provider before going to their office and describe your symptoms to them. Explain why you think you may have caught the H1N1 virus (human swine flu) (for example if you came back from a country that was affected). Follow health care instructions that will be given to you.
• If it is not possible for you to contact your health care provider beforehand, report your swine flu suspicion upon your arrival at the health care institution.
• Make sure to cover your nose and mouth properly on your way there.

Q : Are all H1N1 virus (human swine flu) cases in humans serious?

A : No. H1N1 cases reported in Canada were not as serious as those in Mexico. In Mexico, even young, healthy people were infected by the virus; their condition deteriorated rapidly, from a minor illness to a serious respiratory distress in five days, on average.

Q : Is the H1N1 virus (human swine flu) deadly?

A : As of May 4, 2009, 26 deaths linked to this new virus have been confirmed around the world, that is, 1 in the United States and 25 in Mexico. In comparison, it is estimated that influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, kills on average 250,000 to 500,000 people every year around the world.

Q : How is the H1N1 virus (human swine flu) transmitted?

A : Since several infected people in Mexico and in the United States had not been in direct contact with pigs, we know the virus spread from one individual to another. Although more extended research would be required to better understand the propagation of this virus, we believe it spreads the same way as influenza.

Influenza and other respiratory infections are transmitted from one individual to another by the penetration of germs through the nose or throat. Coughing and sneezing release germs in the air, where they can be inhaled by other individuals. Germs can also be found on work surfaces and door handles, from which they are transmitted to hands and then to the respiratory system when a person touches his or her own mouth or nose.

Q : Can I eat pork meat?

A : Yes. It has not been proven that the H1N1 virus can be transmitted to humans by ingestion of pork meat or other derived products that are properly manipulated or prepared. The influenza virus is killed when exposed to cooking temperatures over 160°F/70°C, which corresponds to instructions generally provided for the preparation of pork and other types of meat.

Q : Should I be afraid of the H1N1 virus (human swine flu)?

A : The emergence of new types of virus against which we believe we do not have natural defense mechanisms is always alarming. This is why the progression of this type of virus is being closely watched.

Experts agree to say that it is still too soon to evaluate the extent of the situation. However, as of April 30, 2009, the WHO had established the warning level to 5 on a scale of 6, thus forcing governments to reveal their plans to fight the H1N1 virus.

Q : What is a pandemic?

A : It is the expansion of an illness to several countries, many continents, or even worldwide.

Q : Are there any risks of a H1N1 virus (human swine flu) pandemic?

A : It is too soon to know. An influenza pandemic is defined by propagation between humans of an influenza virus within a vast geographic region. In this case, an important investigation is in progress to determine how easily the virus spreads out.

Q : Is a pandemic necessarily dangerous?

A : No. An influenza pandemic can either be minor or serious. It is a pandemic when a virus is easily transmitted and is affecting a vast geographic region. Influenza that is considered pandemic is not necessarily more serious than another one.

However, forehandedness is advised because it is difficult to predict the effects of a pandemic caused by such a virus. It depends on the virulence of the virus, the presence of immunity in individuals, the crossed protection conferred by antibodies produced to fight influenza, as well as factors linked to the infected individual.

Q : How do I protect myself against the H1N1 virus (human swine flu)?

A : It is recommended to wash hands frequently, to cover mouths when coughing or sneezing, and to stay in bed if a fever occurs. It is also advised to consult a health care professional in the presence of serious influenza symptoms.

Q : What are international organizations doing to ensure our security?

A : • Notices to travelers have been issued to advise them to avoid non-essential travel to affected regions.
• The surveillance level has been increased.
• Quarantine agents have been affected to airports in Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver, as well as at the borders. All individuals presenting symptoms of the illness will be held back for evaluation.

Q : What is Canada’s position regarding the H1N1 virus?

A : Several measures are aiming to restrain the propagation of the virus:
• Surveillance has been increased, and front-line health care workers are searching for positive cases in order to report them.
• Health care workers have received detailed instructions for the way to treat suspected or confirmed cases.
• As measures of prevention (prophylaxis), antiviral medications from the Canadian reserve will be used to treat declared cases of the H1N1 virus and to prevent the appearance of the illness among close relatives and friends of infected patients.

Q : As an employer, how can I ensure my employees’ security?

A : After the emergence of SARS, the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed that 80% of companies did not have an emergency plan in the event of a virus infection in the workplace. Most of them do not even have a communications plan intended for employees in the event of a similar situation.

As a reminder of basic rules:
• Inform your employees of measures taken by the company to disinfect the workplace.
• Consider modifying policies on pay, vacation days and sick leave, in order for infected employees to stay home to prevent contamination to their colleagues.
• Remind everybody to wash their hands properly and frequently.
• Implement in-depth cleaning measures.
• Reduce (or even suspend temporarily) all non-essential travel abroad – more specifically to Mexico, where the influenza explosion is raging at the moment.
• Plan an employees assistance program, in order to keep everyone informed of actual risks and to avoid panic.

Q : Which INO Solutions products meet this need?

A : In phase with the recommendations of the Government of Canada, the use of recognized virucidal products (INO-Ek9-4, INO-AES110, INO-AES460) are among the right methods for disinfecting risk-prone areas. Health products for hands, disinfectants to be used with water or not (INO-DE68941, INO-DE68917, INO-DE68978, INO-DE68241, INO-DE68278, INO-DE68217), are germicides that kill 99.9% of germs on the skin. Gentle on hands, they can be used in bathrooms, in locker rooms and at the gym, at the hospital, in the food industry, as well as at the office and at home.

» Consult the Technical Bulletin

Q : What should I do if I planned a trip to Mexico?

A : As of April 27, 2009, Canadian travelers are advised to postpone their non-essential visits to Mexico till forbid. For more information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website