Swine Flu

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

The swine flu symtoms are similar to common season flu.
~ Fever
~ Cough
~ Sore Throat
~ Body Aches
~ Chills
~ Fatigue(feeling tired)

How is it spread? Through food? Is it airborne?

It is not spread through food borne but airborne. For example, a person is infected and he sneezes, someone else breath in the large evaporated drops from the sneeze, he could be infected by the swine virus.

What is the current pandemic alert level as indicated by the WHO? Do you think Singapore is at risk?

The current pandemic alert level as indicted by the WHO is five. It is a phrase five alert as it means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Yes, I think that Singapore is at risk because it is a new virus that has no cure for it yet. And no one has been immune to it yet. With evidence of Dr Margaret Chan, she said, "All of humanity is under threat during a pandemic- one short of a full-blown global epidemic." Most likely, the virus could be mutated at anytime into a more dangerous strain or a milder one.

If any would from Singapore traveled to one of these infected areas of swine virus(H1N1) and he came back unharmed, however, he may be the virus carrier and he will pass it to others in Singapore. Therefore Singapore is at risk too!

What are your thoughts and feelings towards this event? Are you afraid? Confident in the government? Worried about your relatives? Ambivalent? Happy that schools may be closed?

I felt very shocking when I first heard about the swine flu. I thought it was a normal flu that would not cause harm to us. Despite my assumptions that it caused no harm, it had actually cause death to people. When I heard the news that it is a very dangerous in spite that it is not a serious as the Avian Flu, I was alarmed and I felt that there is a need to that some safety precaution. It will be more hygienic too! I am afraid of the Swine Flu and afraid that I may be affected by it. As I heard from the news shown on television that Singaporeans still wants to travel to Mexico with the precautions brought with them.

I had a little confidence in the government as I think that we should not rely on the government too much. At the same time, with the help of the government, it really gives me a more security feeling. I am also definitely worried about my relatives. I hope they are safe from that swine flu.

If the swine flu becomes very serious which the government has to close down schools temporarily, I would be very happy as there will be no school. However, I dislike it when schools closed down temporarily because schools will have to distribute assignments through the school's e-learning website. It is very disturbing to me just to stare at the computer and finish my assignments. I had a hard time concentrating when I am doing the e-learning assignments. In school, there is a teacher to help us understand our studies better, but, at home, there is no one to help us so it would be hard time for me to understand my subjects. In conclusion, I would still prefer to attend school and study rather than being cope at home, sitting at home right in front of the computer to do e-learning assignments.