Exposure to H1N1 virus?

Last month one of our employees fell ill with the flu, which developed into pneumonia. He passed away from the complications a week after contracting the virus. An autopsy performed confirmed that he had been infected with the H1N1 virus and the cause of death was pneumonia. He was 46 years old so he didn't fall into the "target group" for the vaccine.

I guess my question is if he worked up to the day he started exhibiting symptoms, then stayed home thereafter until his passing, how much of a risk does it pose to me and my coworkers having been exposed to him beforehand? Others have had other illness during that time (one had a sinus infection, one had pneumonia but worked while he had it, one had a stomach virus). We're not sure if any of these secondary type infections were due to others contracting the flu or just a coincidence.

How long is the virus active in the environment and can infect others? None of us fall within the target group for initial vaccination so we're SOL for getting a vaccination right now.

WIth all the press going on I can't figure out how long the virus is active, how long you have to be exposed to it to become sick, etc. I have not been sick despite others being ill around me. These days, people tend to work while they are sick instead of staying home. I wish I could thank our late coworker for having the foresight to stay home during his illness and not putting us at further risk. He was in and out of the hospital during the week he was ill but passed away at home from what we were told.