A [H1N1]

DISCLAIMER : THIS IS MY PERSONAL BLOG AND PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW AND THOUGHTS EXPRESSED TOWARDS THE INFLUENZA A H1N1.

In view of the rising of the A H1N1 worldwide now, no doubt the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced pandemic influenza alert at phase 6 on 11Jun09, but the illness is curable. WHO is concerned about current patterns of serious cases and deaths that are occurring primarily among those with pre-existing medical conditions or pregnancy.

I really have no idea why Malaysia Government is so worried & afraid of the swine flu, and came out all sort of rubbish solutions, e.g non reporting your health condition upon returning from affected countries will be fined MYR 10000 or 2 years jail or both, non essential traveling (leisure or business trip) shall be deferred, closure of schools and blah blah blah...

And this, is the funniest statement I ever see from MOH!!! :
"We have no choice but to be stricter as this is the only way to keep the disease from spreading further,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday. NONSENSE !!! This is rubbish !!! Closure of schools can prevent spreading it further? Let me ask you, how do you ensure those were under home quarantine are remain at home for 7-10 days? How do you ensure those who deferred their trips would not affected H1N1 in its own country? Yes, it could be minimal but the chances are there still! The large outbreaks of H1N1 has been just greatly exaggerated by the Malaysia Media.

I got this "10 rules for those who were under home quarantine" from one of the local Chinese news paper, which is way different from WHO !!!!!

住家隔離者須遵守10項最新事項 :

1）你必須在指定的隔離期間留守在屋子裡（盡可能留守在與家人分開的房間內）。

2）禁止離開家門及出席公共場合，無論是執行任務，上學，補習，宗教場所，宴會，購物等其他活動。

3）注意自我衛生：
**在咳嗽或打噴嚏時，須以紙巾或毛巾掩蓋嘴巴及鼻子，並把用過的紙巾丟入垃圾桶內。
**經常以清水及肥皂洗手，特別是在咳嗽或打噴嚏後。同時在碰觸鼻子、嘴巴及眼睛後也必須洗手。
**避免與他人共用私人衛浴物品，包括毛巾、肥皂及其他等，並分開使用廁所。
**確保家中的空氣流通。
**被口液或鼻水污染過的物體表面如地板、桌子必須以含有氯成份的清洗液清洗。

4）若出現發燒、咳嗽或感冒的症狀下仍必須與他人接觸，必須使用口罩。

5）減少與朋友或家人的接觸，並避免到公共場合。

6）在隔離期間內每天測量體溫及注意感染的症狀。

7）獨居者須尋求家人或朋友的協助以獲取日常用品。

8）記錄所有前來探訪的親戚及朋友的名字、電話號碼及地址。

9）發現身體出現感染症狀或發燒後，立即通知鄰近的縣衛生局。

10）通過衛生部的網站、電台、電視及報章跟進流感的最新進展。

資料來源：衛生部

I would definitely suggest you guys to get more accurate information from WHO website, a better understanding about the seasonal flu rather than listen to MOH! And here's the FAQ link from WHO. And I would like to emphasis once more that WHO did not against any travel restriction even to affected countries or self quarantine!!!

So why should you cancel your trip since you've paid so much??