Blogger: SandyF

According to some tabloids, Michael Jackson was once the subject of ridicule when he and his children walked around wearing a mask. Now, with Swine Flu sweeping Mexico and spreading sporadically in North America although it is now Level 4 in the WHO ( World Health Organization ) scale, you can call wearing a mask, casual . What’s next? Would it be thing of fashion? Why not make a designer mask or a stylish couture with mask ensemble just like a veil or a burqa? The mask hype is a good news to the mask makers/manufacturers and it is expected that orders from retailers could increase.

Does wearing a mask really works in avoiding the transmission or reception of the H1N1 influenza aka “Swine Flu or Mexican Flu? No matter how it is named , it is deadly. Thus, you can tell your kids to memorize this Rhyme as popularized by the American Skipping Rhyme circa 1918 saying.

” Obey the laws, and wear the gauze. Protect your jaws from septic paws “.

On Monday, President Obama used the scientific name, H1N1 in his remarks before the National Academy of Sciences to shy away with the name “swine” which could impact the pork meat industry as well as respecting the religious belief of some regions that do not eat pork. In my opinion, I don’t think it would be fair to call it Swine Flu in general as no one had been reportedly contracted this virus by eating pork nor pigs had been positively tested to contain this virus.

This is also to convey the message that American pork is safe and the pork eating public has nothing to fret about thereby avoiding the ricochet on farmers and hardworking families whose livelihood depends on the hog and livestock industry.

Medical experts suggests that masks can not always protect one against the virus. The best way to shield yourself against it is by constant hand washing. Bacteria and viruses can be anywhere and in anything we touch from doorknobs to keyboards. Using hand sanitizer is no substitute for hand washing with soap and water. Hand sanitizer can only be used when there is nothing else to use. Avoid using a bar soap as it can be contaminated when water sips in. If possible use a gentle liquid anti bacterial hand soap.

More information about H1N1.

Did you know?

There was history of similar virulent influenza, the 1918 flu pandemic (aka Spanish flu) which is a virus strain of subtype H1N1 that caused 1 Billion deaths worldwide. Read more>>>