With flu season officially getting underway on October 4, State Sen. Eric Adams is recommending New Yorkers take extra precautions against spreading H1N1 influenza, a.k.a. Swine Flu.

“Preventive measures are our first line of defense,” said Adams, who represents Brooklyn’s 20th Senatorial District. ”Infection prevention and control products that have proven their effectiveness include face masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and surface disinfectants. It is essential that New York State be prepared, and our citizenry should be educated in the use of these resources.”

Best evidence suggests that the H1N1 virus is transmitted through large droplets from sneezes or coughs that travel through the air and land on surfaces. The virus can remain active for up to 24 hours.

Because the risk of transmission of the virus skyrockets with every sneeze and cough, face masks are a vital tool in fighting H1N1. Wearing a high-quality, FDA-cleared face mask that covers the mouth and nose can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.

“Seeing someone wearing a mask can be startling. However, we know that masks provide one of the simplest, most cost-effective infection prevention tools we have in the fight against spreading the flu,” said Seth Segel, of Cantel Medical Corp.

“The more people who wear masks, the lower the risk of transmitting the disease, especially in a densely populated city like New York,” Segel said.

“I will introduce legislation in the Senate to be known as the ‘H1N1 in the workplace prevention act,’” said Adams. The bill, equivalent to NYS Assemblyman Rory I. Lancman’s A9156, will require employers to post H1N1 influenza related information.”

Source: AP