FAQs on Swine Flu
- 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
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!
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
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.
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
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
- 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
- They gathered, sorted and cleansed materials and then sold to companies and factories where the waste originated.
- In a span of two years,
- 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.
ANGEL SURVIVES HELL
ANGEL’S mother may have wronged her repeatedly, but Angel has remained a child who always longs for a parent’s comforting embrace, especially in trying periods of her young life.
The 15-year-old Angel is a child of sorrow. Not only was she battered, she has also been raped allegedly by her stepfather for three years, since she was 11 until she turned 13.
The girl was able to testify in court and has tried hard to pursue her case.
Angel is apparently coping with her traumatic experience.
Social workers who attended Angel at the Marilac Hills in Alabang, Muntinlupa, the half-way house maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for victims of child abuse, said that coping is critical because, without it, “no amount of rehabilitation or counseling could help the person.”
“When the child failed to cope from the trauma during her younger years, it’s possible that it would manifest when she becomes an adult,” the said.
Coping up with the trauma, social workers said, varies for each victim of abuse.
Sometimes, the conviction of the abuser sets the victim free. But there are those who still suffer from guilt despite the conviction of the suspect.
A majority of the clients housed in Marilac have on-going court cases. Their ages range from seven to 17 years old.
Inspiration
The brave girl that she is, Angel serves as an inspiration to other abused children at the half-way house for abused children in Marilac Hills.
She advised other children who may be suffering from abuse — or other forms of exploitation — to seek help from elders.
Parents may also learn from Angel’s bad experience, and she advises them to protect and love their children — always.
Terror and trauma
Children need not face their abusers while a case is being heard in court. A child’s testimony in video is now acceptable in court.
There are only 14 so-called “investigation studios” in the country, most of them in Metro Manila. There, the children can relate their experiences without feeling traumatized again.
This is because a trained social worker provides counseling along the way.
Children in half-way homes are taught to be independent until they are ready to face the world at the age of 18, says a social worker at the half-way house.
Other institutions will find a job for these children or train them in income-generating activities.
Social workers are there for as long as the children need counseling — or even just someone to talk with.
This is part of my article “Incest with an Angel” published by People’s Tonight on April 17, 2006.
My post for the Run and Rally to Stop the Silence (of Child Sexual Abuse) Bloggers Unite
HOW TO SPOT POTENTIAL SUICIDES
Broadcaster Ted Failon’s wife. who died from a lone gunshot wound in the head at the
Here’s an article on the warning signs preceding suicide attempts.
DEPRESSION is almost always a sign. About 25 percent of patients with depression have thought of committing suicide. And 10 to 15 percent of them have actually committed suicide, most of the time unsuccessful.
Depression is a mental illness involving deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. It also means temporary sadness and loneliness common to most of us from time to time.
Almost everyone gets depressed at one point. But in contrast to “normal” sadness, severe depression can dramatically impair a person’s ability to function in social situations and at work.
People with severe depression often have feelings of despair, hopelessness, and worthlessness, as well as thoughts of committing suicide.
So says Dr. Genuina Ranoy, the psychiatric consultant of the Children’s Welfare Specialist Group of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Local study
There are no national data on suicide and depression in the
Of these cases, 117 or 78 percent are women while 33 are men.
The most common mode of suicide for women is wrist-slashing and drug overdose. It’s the same mode of suicide form men.
But generally, men use the more lethal form: using a gun to shoot themselves, intentionally causing vehicular accidents and jumping from heights.
The study observed that the common reason for women to commit suicide is a problem with the opposite sex. For men, it is often financial difficulty.
Ranoy said that suicide can also be determined genetically. “If you have a first-degree member of your family who has committed suicide, there is a greater increase for you to commit suicide, too,” she said.
“Lalo na kung mother or father mo, especially when you were physically involve, or you saw how your mother kills herself or you father kills himself. Mas magiging acceptable for you and suicide,” she pointed out.
If the coping skills needed to handle stresses does not develop during childhood, this increases a person’s vulnerability to commit suicide.
SIGNS
Suicide knows no class barriers. “Whether you come from a well-to-do family or a poor one, you can develop the same depression and commit suicide,” she pointed out.
She said patients who are severely depressed don’t commit suicide because they don’t have the initiative to do it.
“It should be noted that when patients recover from severe depression, it is the time that they commit suicide. This is called paradoxical suicide,“ Ranoy said.
Described as strings of down emotions, depression is seen in people who are unable to sleep or has the tendency to oversleep; unable to eat or could overeat in the process.
“Almost everyday parating down ang feeling. They don’t have the energy. The usual activity that they take delight in previously is no longer enjoyable,” said Ranoy, managing editor of the Philippine Journal of Psychiatry (at the time of the interview).
She disclosed that a big percentage of patients with suicidal behavior also have homicidal tendencies.
“Persons with homicidal behavior think of hurting or killing somebody else not just themselves. It is more acceptable for them to kill other people than to kill themselves. People should take not onlysuicidal precaution but also homicidal precaution,” Ranoy said.
She said some medicines for chronic illnesses could also trigger depression. Medication for hypertension, diabetes, neoplasti, steroid and anti-cancer drugs, for example, may cause depression.
INTENTION
The attempt to kill oneself depends on the intention of the person to commit the act.
“There are suicides wherein the intention of killing themselves is low. They are called the borderline personality disorder. They try to commit suicide at the slightest feeling of depression or frustration in their lives. They attempt to kill themselves just to gain attention. This suicide act is also described as suicide gesture or threat,” Ranoy explained.
The mode of suicide, on the other hand, determines the intent of a person to commit suicide.
“Drug overdose or intake of corrosive materials, that’s a high intent of suicide. They really want to die because corrosive materials that include clorox and muriatic acid, once you have taken them, the chance for you to heal is low,” she said
A suicide letter left by the patient also shows the high intention of the person to die.
“It is more acceptable for the person who will commit suicide to leave a letter with the knowledge that their family know why they did it,” Ranoy said.
Some persons are extremely happy before taking their own lives.
“This is because they have already accepted the fact that they are going to die and don’t want anybody to know this.”
Then there are those who explicitly state the intention.
“There are others who will call a friend or relative before they do the act. However, the intent of killing themselves is low compared to the other one who stays in the room and don’t want to be bothered by anyone.”
PAIN
People around or close to the person who commit suicide experience a third-degree pain.
“Guilt is always there…I should have done this to prevent this kind of condition. Although most of the time its not their fault, they could have done something,” Ranoy said.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Patients with depression undergo drug therapy. Through psychotherapy, psychiatrists also help patients look for the causes of depression.
A support system plays a major role in preventing suicides. “Those that are vulnerable to suicide and depression are those who do not have any support system. They are single, divorced or don’t have any active relationship with anyone so they are the most vulnerable,” Ranoy noted.
Support system could also come from friends and colleagues in the work place.
Some government hospitals are offering therapy for poor patients suffering from depression.
Experts said the best way to prevent depression is to live a stress-free life by having a balanced lifestyle and by learning how to breathe or relax.
My article came out in People’s Tonight with publication date February 27, 2005.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
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.
I love my spunky header
THREE PHASES OF SNOW WHITE
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
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Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, 2. Glory Hole , Monticello Dam, CA |
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This is the ‘Glory Hole’ at Monticello dam, 3. Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah |
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This is supposedly the largest man-made 75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide.
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This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a
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I’m pretty sure most people have seen this one. 6. Diavik Mine , Canada |
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The mine is so huge and the area so remote 7. Sinkhole in Guatemala |
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These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred 8. And the really terrifying one? |
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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!
