Swine Flu (reflections)

As everyone knows, the world is currently battling a dangerous virus, namely swine flu. It will come to Singapore in a matter of time and hence we must all be prepared for the worst. By the way, according to the newspaper, Singapore already has three suspected cases of swine flu. However, I will not be touching on this very much.

Instead, I would like to discuss about the starting cause of swine flu. It was stated in today's Straits Times that the very first person, Edgar Hernandez, four, who caught the swine flu has just recovered from it after a very torturing journey to regain his health. Now, people around the world are accusing him of spreading the swine flu around a "notoriety that makes his parents anxious". So, is he really the one to be blame for the swine flu becoming a pandemic.

I feel that such a poor child should not be put through such suffering, especially after just recovering from swine flu. Firstly, the flu "is infectious in the 24 hours before any symptoms shows in a the victim." and " victims may not display any symptoms at all". Hence, I feel that someone could have transmitted the germs to Edgar without even knowing that he has contracted the disease. Following, Edgar may have fallen ill and was taken to a doctor, before knowing he has swine flu. While the other person may not display any symptoms, he would not have seen a doctor until his conditions worsen. Therefore, anyone could have made this misunderstanding and accidentally blamed Edgar for spreading the swine flu.

Therefore, no one is to be blamed, but we must take up the responsibility. Please share your views on this issue.

Swine Flu

What started off as an insignificant flu has grown into a likely imminent pandemic. The swine virus is a respiratory diease affecting pigs that is caused by type A influenza virus. Each and every country is stepping up its security to contain this deadly virus. Singapore is also tightening border checks, at Changi Airport last night/ today has thermal scanners which screens the arriving passengers to prevent the swine flu from entering Singapore. So far Singapore has no known, or even suspected, cases on this disease but we cannot afford to be complacent as once the virus enters Singapore, we will all be badly affected as Singapore is very dense. This imminent pandemic is not only capable of claiming lives but also will greatly affect the growing economic from last year crisis. Imagine losing money, after the terrible crisis, while you are sick, that wouldn't be pleasant at all.

Please be considerate and if you are sick, please do not comt to school or work as it may spread to so many more people may fall prey to this deadly virus. Please seek medical help immediately if you have influenza like symptoms: running nose, cough, sore throat, high fever or even breathlessness. To prevent yourself from contracting this flu avoid people with flu-like symptoms, avoid crowded areas, wash hands thoroughly with soap as frequently as possible, cough or sneeze into your arms as your hands may come into contact with another thing, which other people may also use.

For fun and trivial facts, a previous flu affected the world whole so badly that half of the world's most populated country died, that is half of China's population died, but of course, it does not only affect the Chinese. Please remember to take care of your health.

Current affairs (2009 budget)

As Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam unveiled recently on a $20.5 billion package of measures. For saving jobs, $5.1 billion has been used. The Government will give all employers money for every worker on their CPF payrole. Besides that, more subsidies will be given to training and the Government will also step up recruitment. $2.6 billion will go to helping families, families will get cash in the form of GST credits and rebates has also incresed. $8.4 billion will go to help companies ti cope with their individual financial problems. $4.4 billion will increse expenditure on public infrastructure and rejuvenate Singapore's neighbourhood. Besides that, it will spend more on education and healthcare and green transport and clean energy. I hope that all of these plans will help Singapore with its current crisis in both long term and short term. So most of us need not stress so much on the economic crisis and look forward to a better future. But will all of these budget packages work? Only time will time.

Current affairs (president of the USA)

As everyone it the world knows, President Barack Obama have already swore in his position as the new 'president of the world'. The whole world also has high expectations of him to bail the world out of its current economic crisis, to provide more stable jobs, taking care of wars and others internal and external problems. Based on an interview with the president, when he was asked what was his greayest moral failure inhis life, he replied,"When his father wasn't home, he experimented with drugs and he drank in his teenage years. And he traced this to a certain selfishness on his own part." Quoted by the president: "We see evil all the time. We see evil, sadly, on the streets of our cities. And it has to be confronted." and "It is so important for us, when we are criticising other countries about the rule of the law, to make sure we are abiding by it. In time the world will see whether he has carried out his promises.

Current affairs (silver workforce)

People may think that older workers are useless or maybe slow. However, old people have more experience than younger workers so we do not need to go for a lot of training courses. Most old people do not work for money but either for more experience or spending their time away. In fact, old people are generally more patient and friendly than younger people. In comparision, working is much more meaningful than begging in the streets so let us get a job to spend our after retirement life in quality.(Writing as a view point of an elder worker)