In The News

Driver Dies of Swine Flu on Heels of New Federal Guidelines

A Landstar System over-the-road driver from Beaverton, Ore., died last week after becoming ill with the swine flu, according to reports from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . The news came within days of new guidelines from the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security concerning the H1N1 flu.

Derrick Keel, 45, was experiencing fever, shortness of breath and a non-productive cough, when he admitted himself into the hospital in Madison County, Ill., last Sunday. Keel had driven through several states prior to being hospitalized, according to the newspaper. His condition worsened, despite treatment, and he died in the hospital's intensive care unit on Wednesday.

The new federal guidelines concerning the swine flu (or H1N1, as it is now being dubbed to avoid a misconception that you can catch it from pigs) are designed to help employers identify actions and institute policies that will reduce absenteeism, control the spread of disease and allow for business continuity in the case of a pandemic outbreak.

In the new report, the Centers for Disease Control encourages employees with flu-like symptoms to stay home from work. The CDC also addresses how to operate with reduced staffing.

For more information on the new guidelines, visit flu.gov .

To access the Department of Homeland Security's pandemic guidelines for the shipping sector, click here .

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