First, it was avian flu that hit Asia, now it is swine flu that is hitting North America, the US and maybe New Zealand.

The alarming outbreak that is said to have started in Mexico and is now suspected to have reached Queens, New York as about 100 students went on a spring vacation a couple of weeks ago in Cancun, Mexico.

Currently, there are 11 cases confirmed in California and Kansas while there have been 11 reported fatalities in Mexico about 1,324 since April 13, according to figures updated late Saturday by Mexico’s health secretary.

The swine flu affects the pigs and can be transferred to human. It is a highly contagious disease and unlike regular flu, humans don’t have natural immunity to a virus that includes animal genes.

There is a vaccine that can be given to pigs for prevention but there is none for humans.

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, nausea coughing, muscle aches and extreme tiredness. Swine flu appears to cause more diarrhea and vomiting than normal flu. If you have these symptoms, go to the nearest hospital.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak of the never-before-seen virus has “pandemic potential.” But she said it is still too early to tell if it would become a pandemic.

Early detection and treatment are key to stopping any outbreak. WHO guidance calls for isolating the sick and blanketing everyone around them with anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza.

What else to do to avoid catching this potentially dangerous flu?

1. Wash your hand frequently with antibacterial soap or always carry with you an antibacterial hand gel. (I always do)

2. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing (Br sensitive of others)

3. If you have colds or sneezing or coughing, stay at home

People in the affected places are now wearing masks. Join the club!

Well, I wish I was there so I would not have the constant stare whenever I go out with my mask on.

Info and photo source: www.foxnews.com

For a person who seldom perspires, what I experienced last night was a total body workout.

I attended the level 2 Yoga class yesterday at Gold’s Gym Robinsons Galleria Ortigas. I used to attend Yoga Classes at Gold’s in Glorietta but I think those classes were for beginners. Since I was at the gym already yesterday I did not let the opportunity pass. Level 2 won’t hurt, I told myself.

The Yoga instructor was there speaking very softly telling us what to do. Oh, well from the looks of it, the lot are regular attendees as they actually know what to do even before the instructor could finish his sentence. Only a handful was being corrected on their postures and positions, myself included so I find it advantageous.

The positions being “dictated” to be done are the ones that I can see on TV. Standing on one foot, doing the Indian sit, standing on both feet and legs forming a pyramid, lying on our backs. But I am telling you, they are not as easy as they look. Maybe that’s why I sweat so hard.

As I feel my body shakes trying to keep a balance and not to fall on my bum and to “normalize” my breath, my forehead is like an open faucet with my sweat dripping so fast down to the floor.

Unlike the after-Yoga sessions I have had, I do not feel that my core though has been worked out to the fullest. I do not feel sore at all. What did I do or did not do?

If I were to rate the session from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, I would lift a score card of 6. I’d prefer to attend the Yogilates in Glorietta as you can actually feel that the core is being worked on during and after the session plus the instructor actually does the rituals along with the students.

I got my flu shot this afternoon.
Being one, I know that there are nurses that have “heavy” hands in terms of administering medications via injection.
The one who administered my flu shot gave me a searing pain and my arm feels heavy. It was not painful last year and as far as I can remember all the kids on which I performed the injection did not cry. This means the pain, if there was, was tolerable. I just hope I did not loose the technique when I give them their shots tomorrow.
I feel also relieved reading from the shot’s literature that people on immunosuppressant are really advised to get the vaccinated although the efficacy might be affected.
So why do we really need to get vaccinated?

Anyone may avail of the vaccine especially:

People who are 50 years old and above.
Children 6 to 23 months old (Please consult your pediatrician first before you have your children vaccinated)
Adults and children with a chronic health condition
People who can give the flu to those at high risk
Anyone who wants to prevent the flu.

But it’s better to get the shot before the flu season starts.

Five years ago, I have decided to take up a second course. BS Nursing. The requirement for nurses abroad espcially in the US was really huge.
While I keep my callcenter job, I managed to be a regular student for three years. I would travel to a nearby province (Bulacan) everyday in the morning and go straight to work in the afternoon.

I abused myself so to speak and I think its taking its toll on my health. I have been tryingto shake off this illness since September. I guess it’s the only thing that loves me. I am having remissions and excacerbations.

I passed the local board exam, the US stateboard exam, the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) and I got my VisaScreen Certificate already.
The only problem now is I need to get a hospital experience to be deployed in the US.
Reality bites. Here in the Philippines, the proportion of registered nurses versus the hospital demand is not equal. In other words, there are too many nurses and hospitals cannot accomodate the high influx.

What really bites is that, you even have to pay for the “training program” (read: volunteer work) in order to get a slot not to mention that you have to fall in an unending line to be accomodated on the registration date. Lucky, if you fall in line the night before the registration.

The “training program” seems to be an income generating scheme for both public and private hospitals. Here are some facts about the hospitals and their training fees:

1. National Kidney and Transplant Institute – P7000 for the 4-month training program
2. Lung Center of the Philippines – P5000 for the 3-month training program
3. World Citi Colleges Hospital – P10000 for the 4-month training program
4. Makati Medical Center – P10000 for the 3-month training program
5. V. Luna Gen. Hospital – FREE 6-month training but nepotism is highly practiced. Unless you are referred by your relatives working there or a soldier, you would not stand a chance

I got into the “training program” of one private hospital. I have no better options. I was supposed to start in February but I deferred as the notice that I was accepted into the program was too short that I did not have time to arrange for my vacation leaves. I was planning to resign in May but due to my present health condition, I had to take a raincheck. The company is paying for my treatment incuding check ups, lab work ups and medications.

Right now, I am in no hurry.

I am buying myself some time as I need to stay “employed” for a while.

Still, I have this great American Dream in my mind.