Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you feel that you have symptoms related to swine flu, contact your medical provider. If you get sick with influenza, it is recommended that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Please be advised that the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code) requires that food employees that work in food facilities not to work with food or utensils if they are sick with gastrointestinal illnesses, including diarrhea and/or abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting. Food employees experiencing persistent sneezing, coughing, or runny nose that is associated with discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth, and that cannot be controlled by medication, shall not work with exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, or lines; or unwrapped single-use utensils.
The Person in Charge (PIC) must report to the Department of Environmental Health if an employee is diagnosed with Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Shigella, Enterohemorrhagic or shiga toxin producing E. coli, Norovirus or Entamoeba histolytica by calling (619) 338-2356. In addition, the PIC must report to the Department of Environmental Health if two or more people are sick with acute gastrointestinal illness. Acute gastrointestinal illness is diarrhea, either alone or with vomiting, fever, or abdominal cramps. It can also include vomiting with diarrhea or two other gastrointestinal symptoms such as fever or abdominal cramps.
Exclude a food employee from the food facility if diagnosed with Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Shigella, Enterohemorrhagic or shiga toxin producing E. coli, Norovirus or Entamoeba histolytica. Only County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health or the County Health and Human Services Agency can clear an excluded employee to go back to work. Restrict a food employee from working with exposed food, clean equipment, clean linens, clean utensils, and unwrapped single-service articles if the food employee is suffering from symptoms of acute gastrointestinal illness or if he/she is experiencing persistent coughing, sneezing, or nasal discharges. Restrictions can be removed by the PIC.
For more information on swine flu, you can visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or you may contact the County of San Diego swine flu information line at (858) 715-2250 or visit http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/Portal/News/swine_flu_cdc_sd.html.