If avian flu strikes the human population, chances are many of those infected will be cared for at home by family and friends.
Logistics become the first concern when someone in the household comes down with avian flu, said Virginia Helget of the Center for Biopreparedness Education.
“You have to decide where you are going to put the sick person,” Helget said. “You’re obviously going to want to separate them from the rest of the family, which is not a small task — especially for those with small children who aren’t going to understand why they can’t go in the next room to visit Mommy or Daddy.”
Other living arrangements must be considered, such as separate bathroom facilites to be used by the sick person, or — in a single-bathroom home — a time when the sick person can access the only bathroom. If the bathroom is shared, surfaces should be cleaned frequently.
“Taking care of these arrangements could go a long way in making sure no one else in the house gets sick,” Helget said.
Adequate supplies of pain relievers, cough medicine and other medications needed for treating flu and cold should be acquired, she said. Food and drinking water should be well stocked and protective mask should be on hand.
Good handwashing techniques, proper coughing etiquette and frequent cleaning of household surfaces are important to minimize the spreading of the disease, Helget said. (Click here to see a video about proper sneezing and coughing techniques that can help prevent the spread of infectious organisms.)
As few people as possible should have contact with the ill person, Helget said. Because experts believe young adults may be most susceptible to avian flu so it may be best to have a healthy older adult deal with the ill person.
“They may stand a better chance of staying healthy,” Helget said.
Those living in the home with a sick person should be monitored closely to see if they may be coming down with avian flu. They also should stay in the home so as not to spread the flu further, Helget said.
“The goal is to make sure as few people as possible get sick,” Helget said.