FAQs on Swine Flu

Things we should know about swine flu. Source: World Health Organization  

• What is swine influenza?
• What are the implications for human health?
• Where have human cases occurred?
• How do people become infected?
• Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
• Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in pigs?
• What about the pandemic risk?
• Is there a human vaccine to protect from swine influenza?
• What drugs are available for treatment?
• What should I do if I am in regular contact with pigs?
• How can I protect myself from getting swine influenza from infected people?
• What should I do if I think I have swine influenza?

RELATED LINKS

- ¹ International Health Regulations (2005) 
- ² Benefits and harms of influenza-specific antivirals

Healthy Baby Check up

This week's Mommy Moments theme is "Doctor, doctor am I sick?"

I don't have pictures of my kids when they were confined at the hospital. These photos were taken when we visited our pedia's clinic in Novaliches. They were scheduled for a

well-baby (no longer babies) check up. I think one of them is scheduled for a vaccination that day.

They goof around to fight boredom. Khalil is the more 'makulit' one. I just love to see my kids playing even if sometimes they end up hurting each other than see them under the weather.

My cute little girl at 6 years old.

Chubby Khalil, about three-years old here. He adores his Ate and emulates whatever she does.

Do you want to share your Mommy Moments? Visit other lovely moms and their unforgettable stories @ http://www.mommyjourney.com/

See related story:

http://penname30.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-sons-brush-with-kawasaki-syndrome.html

My S.A.R.S. Experience

Don't get me wrong, this is just a brief account of my 'encounter' with SARS in 2003 (exactly six years ago today) while I was covering the Department of Health beat.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, is a viral respiratory illness transmitted through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and bodily secretions from an infected person. It manifests flu-like symptoms.

At the height of the SARS scare in 2003, DOH beat people have no other recourse but to cover and write about the latest update on the health malady.

I want a different perspective of the story so I designate myself to visit the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, one of the DOH's assigned government SARS centers in Metro Manila. The other one was found in San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

I have planned to come up with a news feature and a profile story from the interview with front line health workers who are directly handling suspected SARS patients.

The idea is quite scary isn't it? What was I thinking then? We are not even covered by a medical insurance just in case me and my co-workers catch the virus during the coverage. Also, I have two little susceptible kids to worry about.

But there's no turning back. With only surgical masks and alcohol as our protection we proceeded to RITM.

My photographer was all worried to enter the RITM premises, but I assure him we are not going to meet a patient inside as we are not allowed to do so.

The interview and hospital facility guided tour turn out well. I felt good about myself as only few print reporters at the time including those from TV were able to visit the SARS referral center.

I did it all for the love of my job and goal to get a first hand account. After all the worries, I get to see my story published the following day.

Fortunately, none of us get sick after the coverage. Thank God.

Swine virus scare!

Source: DOH Media Office

THE Department of Health (DOH) clarifies that there are no reports yet of swine flu among humans in the Philippines in relation to the outbreak that originated from Mexico and other affected countries.

The government agency emphasizes that the H1N1 swine flu virus recently discovered in Mexico is an entirely novel strain.

Experts describe it as having an unusual combination of genetic material from pigs, birds and humans which have reassorted and caused the development of the current human H1N1 swine influenza virus.

This is the first time that such a virus has been isolated with evidence of human-to-human transmission. There is no available vaccine as of yet specific for this virus.

The World Health Organization alerted all its member states on April 25 that the outbreak has escalated into a “public health emergency of international concern.”

The DOH immediately stepped up its surveillance and biosecurity measures in all international and local airports to prevent the entry of the virus.

A total of 81 individuals have been killed in Mexico and possibly infected and unconfirmed number of other individuals in certain parts of other countries like U.S. and Canada.

The Bureau of Quarantine has already instituted precautionary measures in major ports and possible entry points of the virus in the country.

All quarantine stations are already implementing health surveillance measures including thermal scanning of all arriving passengers from countries with reported swine flu cases. Travelers will also be required to fill up a Health Declaration Checklist to screen for potential signs and symptoms and possible exposure to the virus.

A Health Alert Notice (HAN) on flu-like illness or Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) will also be distributed to all arriving travelers especially from the U.S. and Mexico. We will also convene another meeting with all stakeholders at our ports for a more heightened and coordinated response against the entry of the virus.

All DOH Regional Health Offices and local government units are requested to look out for influenza outbreaks, influenza-like illness (ILI) and /or atypical pneumonia in their areas of jurisdiction and to immediately report such cases to the National Epidemiology Center and/or the Health Emergency Management Staff. (DOH HOTLINE: 7111001 / 7111002)

The DOH Referral Hospitals for Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) have also been primed to ready their facilities to receive patients confirmed or suspected to have been infected with the novel swine flu virus.

These referral centers include the Research Institute of Medicine (RITM), the San Lazaro Hospital and the Lung Center of the Philippines, all of which are equipped with negative pressure isolation rooms for managing patients infected with highly virulent and pathogenic microorganisms.

The DOH said it is gearing up to respond to and manage the potential entry of the H1N1 swine flu virus in the country. Sufficient number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the antiviral drug, Oseltamivir, are available and will be given to high-risk exposure groups which include frontline health workers and surveillance teams at the national and local levels.

Meanwhile, the DOH is advising the public that there is no travel ban being issued by this Department to Mexico and other affected countries.

Travelers are however asked to reconsider their plans to travel to Mexico and other affected countries unless extremely necessary.

As a precaution, the DOH recommends the following:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• If sick, self-monitor and stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.
• Consult your doctor immediately should signs and symptoms of flu persist.

Three stitches!

I told you not to leave the house!

Had my son heed my warning yesterday he would have been spared from the accident that left a three-inch stitches on his forehead.

I was busy browsing the Net while hubby and daughter had their afternoon snack when my youngest asked permission to play outside.

He was grounded for a few days as he was recovering from fever and tonsillitis.

But he still went out despite my warning. Thirty minutes later my niece came rushing to tell us that Khalil tripped over a protruding piece of metal covering the water meter of our neighbor. There was blood all over his face and white shirt. He was crying and begging for our help.

I was panicking and confused on what to pick up or apply to the wound to stop it from bleeding. The sight of blood really made me sick. My husband, on the other hand, was all composed attending to our son being a Red Cross first-aider in high school. He cleansed the wound with soap and running water and apply an antiseptic solution.

We decided to finally bring him to the nearest hospital in the area to close the gaping wound.

My son initially underwent a skull x-ray examination to find out whether fragments of metal remain inside the wound or rule out suspicion of a broken bone near the site of wound. An SOP performed by the hospital's emergency room before my son's wound was finally stitched up.

An active and passive anti-tetanus shots were administered to him to prevent tetanus microbe from setting in. The vaccines gave my son a five-year immunity from tetanus infection.

What lesson does my son get from the incident? The young boy promised to be more careful when playing outside. To us parents, its better to be always on our toes whatever type of mess we are in and always hope that no similar incident will happen again. But, kids will always be kids.

My fascination for clouds

I've been fascinated with clouds ever since I was a child. On a bright sunny day, I would look and marvel at the shapes that I see in them. Recently, I decided to take pictures of these shape-forming haze using an old digital camera.

This one looks like an extended arm. Scientists classify this type of haze as as cirrus clouds.

Cirrus clouds are the highest clouds. They usually mean fair weather. They look white and feathery.http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/dondero/msm/weather/cirrus.html

This flying bird-like cloud is a mixture of cumulus and cirrus. Cumulus clouds are puffy. They have flat bottoms and are low in the sky. Cumulus clouds usually mean fair weather. If they grow tall, they can become thunderheads and bring rain. http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/dondero/msm/weather/cumpndlg.html

Does this look like a fish to you? This type is also called cirrus cloud.

This trident-shaped cloud is another example of cirrus cloud

A clear blue sky. Did you see the moon?

This is cirrus cloud at sunset.

Venus, the stunning "evening star," gleams in the western sky after sunset.

The shiny moon

Unforgettable moments with Dad

TODAY is my husband's moment to shine. I've searched for some pictures that I thought capture his best moments as a DAD.

Dateline: Quezon City (March 1997)
My eldest was barely a few days old when this picture was taken.
My husband was a little apprehensive to hold the 4-pound baby girl in his arms yet the picture came out well.

Daddy's little girl. It was the morning of my daughter's second birthday (March 1, 1999). She just woke up and was looking for her Dad.

Daddy's Day Out. We were spending one Sunday afternoon at the SM StoryLand in Fairview. Hubby appeared relax here, but he was actually tired from running after our youngest so he hold the tot still for this picture.

We missed this kind of bonding this year. This was one of my husband's 'refreshing' moments. He goofs around with our kids while taking a dip to cool off from the summer heat. This was taken at Water Fun (Fairview) in 2007.

A feather in Daddy's cap. Hubby shared this important event in our children's lives.

Joy ride on a Sunday afternoon. Both Father and son spend some time driving around the neighborhood using our not-so new motorbike.

Daddy's girl is now a lady. I hastily took this photo right after the graduation ceremony last month. Daddy was very happy seeing her daughter grow as a sweet and fine young lady.

Wasting time on waste

IN my list of environment conservation advocates, I thought of ecological artist and writer Odette Alcantara, the convenor of Artists for the Environment and founding member of Earth Philippines, a non-government organization; and the ecological waste management project Zero Kalat para sa Kaunlaran Foundation (ZKK) in Malabon as prime movers.

Plus, an 'outrageous’ recipe booklet that would make you gaga over banana peeling.

• Alcantara converted a lot of waste materials found in her old Blue Ridge house in Quezon City to an extraordinary and functional home decor.
• She said that said segregation of waste according to its type is one of the simple steps to deal with waste at home.
• "Environmental protection is everybody's job; unfortunately not everyone loves the environment. I think its ignorance that keeps us detach from this precious planet, which is our entire life support's system."
• She offers free basic procedure of segregation, composting, and recycling at her own eco-waste management and training center found at the ground level of her house.
• Students, professionals as well as ordinary people also get hand-on training on proper waste disposal and how to learn money from them.
• The ecologist believes that livelihood is just a component and not the main event of recycling.

• ZKK began out of utter desperation on seeing the unabated dumping of garbage on major thoroughfares and street corners of Barangay North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas.
• They gathered, sorted and cleansed materials and then sold to companies and factories where the waste originated.
• In a span of two years, ZKK Redemption Center became a 'must-see' eco-tour site for local and foreign visitors.
• The gratifying part of learning the proper way of disposing your waste, is when people learn the trade of making money out of recycled waste materials, said Dr. Judea Millora, community doctor and founder of ZKK.
• Their projects include hats, bags, decorative materials crafted from 'trash.'
• They earn around P8,000 to P17,000 from sorted waste papers.
• ZKK Foundation believes that zero waste is not just a concept, but a lifestyle.
• ZKK believes that promoting recycling program in the country is a lot cheaper compared to putting up and maintaining a landfill.

• ZKK published Outrageous Banana ‘Peelings o-o-oh Peelings’ recipe booklet in response ‘to these challenging times of rising food costs and economic difficulties.’
• Compiled by Mrs. Ofelia A. Panganiban, the recipe uses banana peelings, either green or ripe, as the principal ingredients.
• How about Banadobo for maindish, Banaghetti for snack and Banamansi for beverage.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Interview with Psychic Stargazer at the Ultra gate, Pasig City: Spirits (of stampede victims) need prayers to walk into the light and move on.

Love beyond prison walls: Social worker meets husband in prison. Now both are active preachers.

Fourteen-year-old victim of abuse tells story and slow recovery from sad experience.

Blind Lola misses relatives who abandoned her at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.

All photographs appeared in People's Tonight

I love my spunky header

A catchy header. This is just what I need to dress up my site a bit. My creative thinking hubby made this simple but cute header for me yesterday. I think the color blends well with the background tone. Notice the three characters in the middle. Well, that's me and my two gorgeous kids (Mimsy and Kyle). Hubby even put their names on the kids' shirts, but the image is just too small you can only see horizontal lines. http://penname30.blogspot.com/

THREE PHASES OF SNOW WHITE

Young girls usually identify with a certain Disney Princess in their lives. My daughter Naomi is fascinated by Snow White, thus this costume. She wore the same Snow White outfit in all three photographs.

This photo was taken in 2004 inside our bedroom. She's 7 years old here. Notice her natural pose. :)

She's wearing a crown here because her red headband is missing.
This was taken in 2006 inside our bedroom.

Isn't she big for her costume now? She hesitated to wear this dress at first, but I was able to convince her for the purpose of joining the Mommy Moments contest sponsored by a fellow blogger mom.

EIGHT Amazing and Terrifying Holes!

(Source: Forwarded email)
These holes are not only amazing, but some of these are really terrifying - especially the last hole! The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are.

1. Kimberley Big Hole , South Africa

Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed in 1914. 2. Glory Hole , Monticello Dam, CA A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir

This is the 'Glory Hole' at Monticello dam, and it's the largest in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second. 3. Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit is increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is 75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide. 4. Great Blue Hole , Belize

This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one. 5.. Mirny Diamond Mine , Serbia

I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. A t 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in. 6. Diavik Mine , Canada

The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen. 7. Sinkhole in Guatemala

These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred early this year in Guatemala . The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.. 8. And the really terrifying one?

This is the famous Malacanang Palace 'Rat Hole' that you have heard about where there are many A_ _holes. It is capable of swallowing trillions and trillions of Pesos... Annually! Never to be heard from again. Frightening, isn't it? (LOL)

Beat the summer heat! (and some notes to avoid getting sick)

BEFORE you head to that long-planned summer getaway, here are some simple and effective tips to make your vacation memorable and trouble-free.

I find this health tips from the Department of Health useful for any given season or occasion.

Some known summer conditions known to men include food and water-borne diseases. These are:

1. Typhoid
2. Cholera
3. Hepatitis A
4. Food Poisoning
5. Other Diarrheas

• Sore Eyes
• Measles (Tigdas)
• Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Dengue
- Malaria
• Other Conditions
- Sunburn
- Prickly Heat

Handling Food and drinks

• Cook food properly
• Preferably, food must be eaten immediately after cooking (while still hot)
• Leftover food should be refrigerated and reheated before being eaten
• Food handlers should wash their hands before and after food preparation
• If sick, avoid preparing food for others
• Avoid drinking water and iced beverages of doubtful quality
• If water quality is doubtful, boil drinking water for at least 2 minutes
• Peel and wash fruits / vegetables before eating
• Wash hands before and after eating

At the beach

• Do not allow children to swim without the company of an adult
• Avoid staying under the sun without scanty clothes for more than 3 hours as this predisposes to sunburn, heat exhaustion and worst, heat stroke
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, especially during exercise & sports activities

While on the road

• Check vehicle well before going on a trip
• Bring repair kit with you
• When drunk, never attempt to drive

Now, don't forget to bring extra clothes with you and oh your camera, too! Have fun!

Remembering Brownie

I felt sad after watching Marley and Me last Sunday. I couldn't help but reminisce about the good old dog I have with Brownie, a mongrel given by a neighbor when I was 10.

Marley, a Labrador retriever, was the precocious but lovable dog in the self-titled movie along side actor Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston, who both played as newspaper reporter and columnist, respectively.

The blonde lab played a major role in John and Jenny Grogan's adventure of marriage, career and family.

Incidentally, Marley and Me is based on the best-selling autobiographical book by columnist John Grogan.

So, in what part of the movie I can relate to?

There are two scenes in the movie that remind me of Brownie.

Brownie is an equally loyal dog. I remember him following me to school almost everyday. He would only stop tailing me when I reached the school gate.

I think the incident happened the same year when I lost him to peddlers.

My grandmother decided to sell Brownie after a near-confrontation with an irate neighbor. Brownie, who is an obedient dog, is blamed by the neighbor for allegedly destroying her plants after pursuing a rival dog.

One day, two men arrived to fetch Brownie. They forced the poor thing inside a cage full of other howling canines of different sizes. Brownie was whining and looking at me as if begging to be rescued.

I was a child and my plea to release him fell on deaf ears.

Hindi ko na maalala kung ilang gabi ko iniyakan ang pagkawala ng aso ko.

In the ending part of the movie, John was devastated to witness his dog slowly dying (euthanized) inside a vet clinic. I can relate to John’s loss in that scene.

Marley was given the proper burial and respect by the Grogans at the family estate. I never saw how Brownie died, but I could imagine how he was beaten to death by the ruthless peddlers.

After a few days, my uncle decided to search for Brownie somewhere in Binan or San Pedro, Laguna, where live dogs and dog meat are reportedly sold during those days. He came home empty-handed. He said that Brownie could be dead.

I still think about Brownie until now. My children have heard of the story a couple of times already. They are begging me to buy a Labrador pup even before they watch the movie. I have yet to grant their wish explaining to them the responsibility that goes with taking care of a dog. But I instill in them the value of having a pet, especially dogs, that they make a good and loyal companion even if they are already old.