Self-monitoring can prevent the spread of respiratory viruses by limiting the exposure of others to symptomatic personnel. Each day prior to work staff shall assess themselves for symptoms associated with respiratory viruses. Staff should also determine if any people living with them have symptoms. According to the CDC common symptoms of respiratory viruses are:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Headache
The CDC also identifies chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue (tiredness), fever or feeling feverish, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, and wheezing as other potential symptoms.
NIH staff experiencing any of these symptoms should stay home and use sick leave or telework (if available) to minimize the potential to spread the virus at work.
Employees working in healthcare settings should be referred to Clinical Center Infection Control and Prevention policies for additional guidance.
Risk Factors for Severe Illness. Respiratory viruses can cause symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. The elderly, persons with underlying medical conditions (e.g., cancer, immune compromising conditions or medications, diabetes, obesity, COPD, etc.), and pregnant or recently pregnant people are at higher risk of severe infections. However, ANYONE can become severely ill, including younger populations and vaccinated people. If you experience severe symptoms, contact your physician. Contact 911 if you have trouble breathing.
