The following Q&A is based on H1N1 questions asked by LG&E and KU employees.


Q. What is the company doing to prevent the spread of infection at company facilities?
A. The company is using a multi-faceted approach to ensure that facilities are equipped to prevent the spread of infection. Those efforts include:

• installing and refilling wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers in all office buildings, service centers, power plants and business offices;
• providing individual office workers with small bottles of hand sanitizer;
ensuring that, in environments where employees share equipment, departments are using disinfectant wipes to clean equipment at shift changes;
• cleaning and disinfecting workstations of any employee who is suspected of having H1N1 (or whose family member is confirmed to have H1N1);
• purchasing and distributing supplies of disposable antibacterial wipes for work groups not in office environments; and communicating to cleaning staff that alcohol-based hand sanitizers and soap are to be restocked on a frequent basis. The cleaning crews also are following proper procedures in regard to keeping offices and workspaces clean, using the required cleansers and other necessary cleaning materials.

Additionally, the company has issued regular H1N1 communications since April 2009 to keep employees fully informed about all aspects of the flu and latest developments. The company’s wellness program will once again offer free seasonal flu shots to employee, retirees and spouses this fall. And we have been actively engaged with local, state, national and industry leaders in pandemic planning and preparedness for years.


Q. What if I start to feel sick at work?
A. First, know the difference between cold and flu symptoms. If you think you may be coming down with the flu:

1. Call your supervisor immediately.
2. Avoid direct contact with other employees, customers, vendors or contractors.
3. Your supervisor will advise you of your next steps.

Q. Is there any way to easily tell if you have a specific strain of the flu?
A. Yes, your doctor can do a nasal culture for the type of flu. At this point, testing is not being recommended because of the spread of illness and the high probability that any cases occurring now, outside the usual flu season, are due to H1N1.


Q. If I get sick with the flu, when can I return to work?
The CDC now advises that persons diagnosed with the flu stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicines), in order to prevent the spread of infection to others.


Q. Is it true that the regular flu seems to kill “babies and old folks" while the swine flu seems to kill the healthier adults who would normally shake off the regular flu?
A. When the swine (H1N1) flu outbreak was first identified back in the spring in Mexico, it did appear to affect younger individuals. That led to the concern reported then, particularly with the recent focus on avian flu and its impact on the younger, healthier individual. As the swine flu virus has spread, the CDC has determined that the virus is not as severe as normally thought. Groups most affected are children, pregnant women, and adults with chronic illnesses. Older adults appear to have greater immunity for some unknown reason, but CDC scientists conjecture some may have come in contact with a similar Type A flu strain years ago and have developed resistance.


Q. I've read that the new H1N1 vaccine will be similar to the swine flu shot used in the 1970's, which caused a high incidence of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, paralysis and, in some cases, death. Is this a concern with the new H1N1 vaccine?
A. There were some complications with the swine flu shot in the 70's; however, it was a live virus vaccine. Vaccines today are produced with killed viruses, so there have been significant improvements and minimal side effects with vaccines. According to the CDC, initial clinical trials of the H1N1 vaccine on adults have been very promising, with no side effects other than a sore arm. Trials will continue through mid-September on other groups. The comapny is monitoring and evaluating this issue constantly and will know more about the safety and efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine after clinical trials are completed.


Q. What should I do right now to prepare?
A. There are many things employees can do to prepare for cold and flu season, particularly in light of the potential for an H1N1 outbreak.

• Know the difference between cold and flu symptoms.
• Get a seasonal flu shot and practice healthy habits.
• Plan for alternate child care arrangements now, just as you would in the event of any kind of unexpected situation.
• Ask your supervisor if you are able to work remotely using such tools as Outlook Web Access and VPN. If so, be sure you have the proper equipment (company laptop) and access (SecurID fob).
• At home, assemble supplies for a flu kit: ibuprofen or acetaminophen, thermometer, decongestants, nasal saline, cough medicine, diarrhea medication.
• Have a family preparedness plan. The Centers for Disease Control provides a checklist that you and your employees can use to prepare for any kind of emergency situation at http://pandemicflu.gov/individual/checklist.html.