Monsanto ~ H1N1 Flu Information

As human cases of H1N1 flu virus continue to grow, Monsanto’s Disaster Preparedness Team is working closely with the Monsanto leadership as well as all of our sites to ensure the safety of our employees and their families.

We are also closely following developments provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) findings and recommendations.

This information is being provided for employees and their families. We have also created a Monsanto-specific Q&A for employees and their families to access. Please check back regularly for updates.

Monsanto Employee and Family Recommendations

Monsanto considers its sites to be at a level 3, with the exception of a few sites with a higher level of H1N1 activity, which can go to level 4 or level 5/6--under the Monsanto definition of alert levels.

Monsanto is taking the following steps at alert level 3:

Identify and communicate infection rates within local community and communicate all suspected ILI cases to the Global Occupational Medicine group
Develop relationships and coordinate with local government health agency and healthcare system
Facilitate seasonal flu, pneumococcal and H1N1 vaccination programs
Assess tasks that impact social distancing and design control strategies for those tasks
Implement High Risk Group Assessment Program
Verify adequate supplies are available (PPE, Thermometers, hand hygiene, etc.).
Utilize Personal Protective Equipment when appropriate, following the Global PPE Matrix
Pre-plan for the implementation of Pandemic Spread Control Program
Develop or assess contractor, temporary and seasonal worker programs and communicate Monsanto pandemic plan components as appropriate
Monitor travel advisors and educate traveling employees on the need to carry a prescription of anti-viral medication
Assess procedure for responding to influenza-like Illnesses or other contagious respiratory infections at the site
Implement program for the evaluation and referral of workers that develop influenza-like illness symptoms while at work or call off work with potential ILI symptoms
Review and update business continuity plan
Promote the development of family preparedness plans

In addition to these steps, Monsanto also offers the following recommendations when sites reach H1N1 Alert Level 4:

Follow all recommendations for Level 3
Provide intense education and communication campaigns around hand hygiene, cough etiquette, social distancing and flu prevention
- Practice cough etiquette and increased hand hygiene
- Avoid touching mouth, nose and eyes
Provide voluntary Influenza-like Illness symptom questionnaire for self-administration by workers
Implement program for the evaluation and referral of workers that develop influenza-like illness symptoms while at work or call off work with potential ILI symptoms
High risk groups should practice social distancing and make contact with their physicians
Implement contractor, temporary and seasonal worker program components
Recommend implementation of family preparedness plan
Travel-related actions: make accommodations for high risk employees to limit air travel, monitor regional travel alerts and review travel section of supervisor program

Symptoms of H1N1 Flu

H1N1 influenza has the potential to infect a majority of the population, causing large numbers of people to get sick and experience complications when infected. Its symptoms include:

Fever higher than 38ºC (100.4ºF)
Cough
Sore throat
Body and joint aches
Chills and sweats
Extreme fatigue
Headache
Vomiting, diarrhea