Thoughts on Swine Flu

As I write this, the latest CNN breaking news says that a school in Fort Worth, Texas in the US has been shut down as precautionary measure to stop the spread of swine flu. The World Health Organization has also raised the pandemic alert level to 5, the second highest alert level for pandemics. Earlier, in his press conference for his first 100 days as US President, Obama supported this move of closing down schools in order to control the problem.

Here are some more things I'd like to share:



1. This swine flu is new. It's always bad news when there is a new infection. No one is ready for it. The real origins of this flu are still unknown; what is known is that pigs have acted as a mixing cauldron for its birth. Its parents are human influenza, avian influenza, and two separate strains of swine influenza.

from the CDC

2. It is a virus. A type of influenza virus, to be more specific. The official term is swine influenza virus (SIV). It passes from human to human very easily, hence explaining its quick spread. When it infects humans, there are only two possible outcomes: recovery or a fatal outcome. It all depends on how strong and how quick our respective immunities respond. The assumption is, the healthier you are, the more likely you'll recover when you get infected.

from the CDC

3. You can NOT catch swine flu by eating pork. You might catch it if you spend your days in close contact with real pigs in hog farms. So, you might still find it enticing to follow the recommendations of celebrity TV chef Anthony Bourdain and TIME magazine, that the Philippines' Cebu Lechon is the best pig in Asia. Just don't eat too much, especially if your doctor is trying to bring your cholesterol down.

Frontpage Photo from a major Mexican newspaper

4. How to protect yourself --- wash your hands frequently. Don't kiss anymore like the couple above. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. Do not spit anywhere or spread any of your secretions on the streets outside (believe me, I see this everyday in Manila streets). To quote President Obama:

"...keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick."

You can also add eating on time, sleeping 8 hours every night, and exercising regularly. These will all boost the immunity.

from the CDC

5. Antivirals - there are people I know who have been on a buying spree of anti-flu medications like Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) in the hope of protecting themselves. Well, guess what? Reports have shown that most of the people infected with the swine flu virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs. I say, spend your money wisely.


In addition to the 91 cases in the US, WHO reports that Mexico has 26 confirmed human cases of infection including 7 deaths, and the following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5), bring the total to 148 cases worldwide.

6. Be updated with the latest information -- know the current news on the swine flu spread. Have there been any evacuations done in your area? Watch TV and listen to radio reports, or surf the internet to know the latest. In problems like these, it always pays to be informed.

from the CDC

7. What's in a name? Apparently a lot. Pork producers and hog raisers feel that their industry is gravely affected by the 'swine flu' term, and are fiercely lobbying that people start calling the current epidemic as H1N1 or influenza A. After all, they reason out, you don't get ill because you ate infected pork (see # 3). President Obama and the US Secretary of Agriculture agree, but up until now, CNN, the New York Times, and even the CDC widget in the upper right hand corner of this blog has not stopped calling it, SWINE FLU. I say, there's nothing wrong with calling it swine flu. I would like to think more people out there are informed enough that they can't get swine flu from eating pork. [updated 2 May 2009]



8. Swine Flu in Asia - a 51-year old South Korean nun and a 25-year old Mexican who transited through Shanghai in Hong Kong developed a fever after arriving in the territory Thursday afternoon, are Asia's first 2 cases. I pray it does not spread anymore. [updated 2 May 2009]

9. Don't Panic - I don't think it's the end of the world yet. Stay informed and stay healthy. Wash hands frequently and cover your mouths and noses when you cough or sneeze or when somebody near you coughs and sneezes. If they can't do it, protect yourself.

10. See Your Doctor - or go to the nearest hospital when you feel that your flu isn't resolving the normal way it should.

Your Asthma and the Lice in your Head

Is there a connection?

A recent study suggests that the dirtier you are, the better your resistance towards allergens that can trigger asthmatic attacks.

from Reuters Health, 21 April 2009

'Dirty' here refers to lice in your head, and it is assumed that if you have legions of lice taking residence, then you are not the type who probably believes in cleanliness being next to godliness.

Our immune systems need to be challenged early (read: you have to get sick when you're young) because that is the best way it exerts its function. Between getting sick naturally and developing antibodies from vaccines, the former is always better than the latter.

Lesson: A hyper-clean body might mean a weaker immune system.

The Death Industry

In this time of global recession, one wonders if those in the funeral industry are likewise feeling a pinch in their profits. From the report below, it seems not:

Revenue in the American funeral industry will grow 1.2 percent this year, to $20.7 billion, estimates Toon van Beeck, a senior industry analyst at IBISWorld, the research firm. That’s down from a 2 percent gain last year — but, hey, it’s still growth when companies in other industries are reporting double-digit losses.

Americans may be living longer than ever, but the reality of a graying nation is stark. The annual death rate of about 2.5 million has been rising about 1 percent a year, and is expected to spike in the early 2020s as older baby boomers reach their mid-70s.

Nevertheless, the death industry is facing something of an existential crisis. Cremation, which can reduce costs by half or more, is a strong trend. (The average cost of a funeral and traditional burial is about $8,000.) Families are increasingly abandoning traditional religious funerals, which are typically organized by funeral directors, in favor of secular ceremonies they may arrange themselves. Natural burials, which avoid embalming and concrete burial vaults, are more commonly considered than they once were, while a minority of families are bypassing funeral homes altogether to take care of their dead themselves. [NYTimes, 18 April 2009]

In the Philippines, more and more rich and well-to-do families are also opting for cremation instead of the old-fashioned getting buried six feet under.

Everyone dies. No one can escape death. We are all captured markets of the funeral industry. But the choice and decision to become a big spender as a form of last hurrah usually depends on those who are left behind. In this aspect, the argument is divided among those who want it simple and those who want it as grand as possible.

Me? I want it as simple as possible. Spending mucho is for the living. The dead will never know or feel the flamboyance and elaborate nature of his funeral.

Holy Week in the Hospital

Rather than dwell on the physical agony brought about by illnesses, getting sick and being hospitalized offer a moment of internal deliberation. A moment of introspection. A time to ponder on things we easily brush aside when we are not sick and busy with the inanities of our daily lives.

That moment of reflection came to Joey Velasco when he underwent a major operation that made him lose his left kidney years ago. Like most sick people, he got depressed with his condition. But that low period in his life proved to be cathartic. He is now a new man, and his paintings speak volumes to those seeking spiritual rejuvenation. Most of his paintings are scenes from true life experiences.

Joey Velasco's paintings have been on display on the lobby of the Philippine Heart Center since two weeks ago, and will run for a week more. They are all full of emotion and thought-provoking. The timing of the exhibit coinciding with Holy Week 2009 is impeccable.

Here are some of his paintings which I liked:

Titled ATROFIA, this shows Jesus lovingly embracing an
83-year old emaciated man, whom Joey calls Mang Crispin.
Atrofia is the Spanish word for "atrophy."
Atrophy in Medicine means wasting away of a body structure
due to either nutritional deficiency or nerve damage.

Close-Up: You will see the attention to detail that Joey Velasco did in the ATROFIA painting.
The fragile and thin muscle on the arm of the old man
is securely held by the loving hand of the Savior.

Here, you see the sorrowful face of the old man finding refuge in arms of Jesus.
The crown of thorns he holds probably symbolizes his lifetime of pain.

This one is titled THAT WE MAY LIVE.
It shows a group of kids carrying the dead body of Jesus.

Detail of THAT WE MAY LIVE.
The pensive look on the boy's face is striking.

This one is light on the heart. It shows the strength of innocence in wanting to heal.

If you have some spare time this Holy Week and even after, I encourage you to visit and take a look at Joey Velasco's painting exhibit over at the Philippine Heart Center. The message of celebrating Holy Week is knowing that adversity can be overturned, and that resurrection from death (more often in the figurative sense) is possible.

The Art Gallery of the Philippine Heart Center
presents
Joey Velasco: A Journey in Art and Life

Lee Kuan Yew in Metro Manila U-Turns

Baffling. The bright thinkers at MMDA (our version of traffic enforcers) has just broken their own record for coming up with superb ideas to relieve the city's congested daily traffic. Their vision has always been chimerical.

Way back, I still remember the same incomprehensible feeling I had when I saw my first Ped Xing (short for pedestrian crossing). This time, however, I am really dumbfounded. I can NOT see any significant connection whatsoever.

Look at this:





What has Lee Kuan Yew got to do with Manila's U-Turns?

Is that even a LEGITIMATE traffic sign?

Will this help ease traffic and prevent road accidents from happening?

Even Lee Kuan Yew might find this very puzzling.