What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
IIf you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

From: CDC site

Jokes from Mr L...

Lame as they were, it did make me laugh.

1. Pork bun and plain bun went to a very sad movie.

Pork bun started crying and sobbing but plain bun was unaffected.

Why was that so?

A. Because, Pork bun has 'Fillings'...

2. Pork bun and Dua ba bun (big chicken bun) went to another very sad movie.

Pork bun just sat there unaffected, but Dua ba bun cried like mad.

Why was that so?

A. Because, Dua ba bun has more 'Fillings'.

3. Mother and Father Pork bun was walking baby Pork bun down the road.

Suddenly a car arrived, and knocked baby Pork bun.

Father Pork bun immediately Bitch slapped Mother Pork bun.

Why was that so?

A. Because, Custard was spilling out of baby Pork bun...Not pork! (OH OH!)

~ Brings a smile to my face, and you know how to do that.

Was on msn yesterday and L randomly asked me what I thought was the reason why suicide often came hand in hand with taking one’s socks and shoes off; namely if you hop off a bridge, and I countered that line of thought with the idea of ‘returning home’.

Alright, let’s see if you can think of something more creative then that. So why do people take off their shoes and socks before jumping off a bridge? Not HDB or high-rise in that case, as it doesn’t work. Is it because, we rather not get our shoes and socks wet, or simply so to loan it to the next passerby or hobo who might need it?

Apparently his weird thought stemmed from the show ‘lie to me’, which I’m desperately waiting for some release over here in Singapore, but from the way Asian countries go, it will be a long long wait for me. Perhaps L could send me a store bought copy all the way from Down Under.

Diva on the otherhand, when I told him I wanted to watch the show, stated he would SHOW me what it

means to tell a lie…

 

‘oh i show u
Lie to me parte one:" mariel i have always say u are chio but actually u are chioer u know right"
lie to me parte 2:" Mariel.. i am actually using maybelline on my face (gasp!)"
lie to me parte 3:" i am a (gasp) shemale!"’

And there you have it. totally Random things for a Random monday. Got the old hair cut too, getting pretty long and rakish over time. Still a good change and a good start for the week. Long live extended weekends!

Sun, Apr 12, 2009

Urban, The Straits Times

No money, no honey

by Hong Xinyi

A woman in her 50s has lost a large chunk of the money she invested in stocks and her husband is blaming her for the loss. She feels overwhelmed and does not know what to do.

A housewife with four children wants to go back to work because her property agent husband's income has plummeted now that the real estate market is tanking.

A recently divorced man who works in sales has just had his monthly salary taken away by his company - the new policy dictates that he will be paid only by commission.

After meeting his alimony payments, he cannot afford to rent his own place even after taking on an extra job as a taxi driver, so he is now staying with his mother and aunt in a cramped one-room flat.

A man who used to work in the finance industry has just lost his job and has sunk into deep depression. His wife feels that she is not getting any support from him to steer the family through these tough times.

These are just some examples of relationships under siege recounted by financial experts and counsellors as the economic crisis deepens.

Dr Adrian Wang, a consultant psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, says he has seen one or two patients each month struggling with stress and mood swings related to losing their jobs over the past six months. Such cases were rare in the past, he says, and these patients are typically from the banking and finance industries.

'As the heads of their households, losing their jobs is not just a financial blow but it also effectively takes away their role as a provider,' he says.

'This often leads to marital strain because the husband gets upset more easily and this affects the children as well when they see their parents quarrelling more often.'

Leong Sze Hian, president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and host of a weekly financial counselling programme on Radio 100.3FM, says the number of money-related relationship problems he has encountered in his weekly counselling sessions and radio show call-ins has also spiked since the recession started.

'It is almost a given that when people are financially strapped and facing problems like losing their jobs, matrimonial problems arise,' he says.

'Typically, people marry for love but when money problems come, love becomes no fun.'

Over the past three months, the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has also seen a 21 per cent increase in helpline calls and a 137.5 per cent rise in face-to-face counselling sessions with women facing problems ranging from marital discord over strapped finances to stress and depression over cash-flow problems.

'Some women may be entirely dependent on their spouses and if the spouse is no longer supporting them or is contributing less, this creates more tension at home,' says Aware manager Kerry Wilcock.

'Some women state that they are prepared to stay in unhappy relationships as long as financial needs are met. When these needs are no longer being met, they begin to question their relationships.'

Even for couples who have not been hit hard by the recession, these tough times are prompting them to rethink their financial priorities.

For her upcoming wedding, PR consultant Eileen Chua, 33, has shaved at least $15,000 off the expenses by opting for a more affordable venue and videography package.

She even contacted the bride who would be getting married hours before her own church ceremony to ask if they could share the cost of the flowers for the church.

The two brides-to-be are currently discussing their floral preferences, she says, and both are pleased that the bill for flowers can be split.

Business development executive Christopher See, 26, has also started taking a more pro-active approach towards his own marriage plans with his 22-year-old girlfriend.

He recently set up a savings account into which he puts 50 per cent of his salary every month.

'It has been tougher than I think, but we both agree that it's important to save for a rainy day. We also plan to buy an HDB flat when we get married, rather than going for a condo as we first planned because that could put our finances in bad shape.'

Newlywed Tina Marley, 30, also plans to start married life with her husband, a training pilot, on a prudent note.

'For our HDB flat, we plan to do some of the renovation works, like painting the walls, ourselves. We have also cut down on expenses such as eating out,' says the research scientist.

'We definitely have to make cutbacks because things have slowed down and we're not expecting big bonuses this year.'

BAD TIMES, GOOD START

In fact, couples starting their relationships against a backdrop of financial turmoil may be better off in the long run.

After all, practical conversations about money are often neglected in favour of romance in good times, says Leong, who advises all couples to share their financial goals and concerns before getting hitched.

'Talk about everything from what kind of wedding and honeymoon you want to career plans and how much debt and income you each have,' he says.

'You'd be surprised at the kinds of things I hear couples complain about, things like not knowing their partner has to support his parents totally.'

Even for couples whose finances are now in a mess, it is not too late to get their act together, he says.

'Parents should get the children involved, let them know where the money is coming from and how it is being spent,' he advises.

'Parents here typically don't want their children to know they are in financial difficulty, so they try to live life as if things are the same. However, there is no harm in being honest.'

After all, as Dr Wang puts it, everyone from millionaires to the average Joe can have money problems.

'The important thing is to get through rough patches by strengthening your bonds with your loved ones.'

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.

If i had a cat, it better look like this little tubby one. Isn’t she adorable?

I remembered a time when I really <3 cats. Loving them.

From the acclaimed director and scriptwriter of No. 1 Box Office hit “Congkak”, Pierre Andre comes “Be Silent” that has already been Nominated for “Best Film” at the 22^nd Malaysian Film Festival 2009.

“Be Silent” tells of Natasya (Julia Ziegler) who is haunted by ghostly apparations that only she can see. Inspired by the classic horror film “The Exorcist”, this movie is set to chill its audience to the bone.

The story begins when Natasya awakes from a coma which was laiden with nightmares of a missing girl who haunts her dreams, these dreams continue to plague Natasya after she’d gained consciousness and are further amplified by Natasya’s newfound ability; the ability to see ghostly apparitions that others could not.
Journey into the world of black magic & the supernatural as Natasya investigates the reason for her twisted dreams and uncovers a secret so sinister that it threatens to destroy Natasya and all that she
holds dear.

Opening in Eng Wah Cinemas, come 23rd of April; “Be Silent” is the film to catch if fear is something you lack…