Small Tip on Preventing A(H1N1) Flu!

The uprising of the A(H1N1) flu to become pandemic flu is indeed a worrying thing. The number of people affected is increasing exponentially with new cases detected every hour. On top of that, the virus is capable of local transmission is not going to do any good to curb this problem. Amidst the commotions, there are panicky people who makes the situation worst by spreading some untrue fact regarding the disease. I am going to straighten some facts here.

Eating raw or rare meat can spread the illness

I heard this statement over a well-known radio station. While it is true that the origin of H1N1 is from pork, but it is an influenza virus, which means it need to spread through airborne and nasal droplets. It is in no way at all a chunk of meat able to spread the disease. It needs the respiratory system to produce the aerosolized viral particle to spread.

Avoid crowded public place

This is a very important steps to curb the spread of disease. As you frequent the crowded place, the chances of getting the illness will be higher. But one place that people often forget is the Hospital itself. While it is true that when you are ill, you go to hospital, but a trend that I observed lately that the non urgent case also in the waiting room of my clinic. The hospital should be classified as the highest risk of all public place as the confirmed  case or suspected case of H1N1 case will go through our screening centre. Yet parents also bring the little ones with cases like scabies or impetigo at the depth of the night to seek for help, all this which can be done in the daylight in out-patient department. The worst case of all that I had seen was a man who is perfectly well, came to me 2 days ago, says that his subordinate had been in contact with a possible case of H1N1. Apparently the subordinate had attended a lecture given by an American. I asked whether the American had got any fever symptoms. He said no. So I discharged him within 30 seconds.

Wearing a Mask while You Travel

I saw a few photos cutout from local daily, saw a couple from Germany went down from Batu Caves with a mask on each. While the virus has escalade to Level 6 which is a pandemic, there are still people that ignores the WHO advice regarding travelling. All the mask do is to prevent you from spreading the illness from other people and a little bit of protection from the outside to inside. This is absurd. I have seen cases from Pulau Tioman, Caucasian on their way travelling in Malaysia, and bring along the disease. People, listen up! Stop unnecessary travelling and the disease will be better curbed.