UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Influenza A(H1N1), also known as “swine flu”, has continued spreading during the summer. As of August 10 there were 189 confirmed cases of swine flu in Finland. However, the number of cases is expected to increase; a greater share of the population is estimated to become infected with the A(H1N1) virus than the regular influenza virus. Fortunately, the disease has increasingly begun to resemble the common annual influenza in its severity, and the majority of those infected recover without medication and hospital treatment.

How to protect yourself against the disease?

The best way to protect yourself against the influenza, as well as several other communicable diseases, is to wash your hands regularly. To prevent infecting others, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing. If you cough or sneeze into your hands, you should wash them immediately. You should also wash your hands carefully with warm water and soap whenever you return indoors, after visits to the toilet, and before meals. You should avoid touching your face with your bare hands and limit your interaction with those infected.

The authorities are preparing for an extensive vaccination programme to help slow down the spread of the epidemic. The delivery timetable for the vaccine depends on the production capacity of the manufacturer. More specific national decisions on vaccination and the related practical arrangements and timetable will be made during the coming autumn.

According to the guidelines issued by authorities, preventive antiviral medication should only be used in special cases in specialised medical care.

What to do if you fall ill?

The typical symptoms of influenza A(H1N1) include the sudden onset of fever (over 38 °C or over 38.5 °C for under 3-year-olds) associated with respiratory symptoms such as coughing and a sore throat. Further symptoms may include muscular aches, headache and diarrhoea.

If you have the above symptoms you should stay at home. Most employers accept an absence of a few days on the basis of the employee’s notification. During the influenza season employers may also decide to accept slightly longer absences without a doctor’s or nurse’s certificate. The spread of the epidemic can be slowed down by avoiding unnecessary medical visits when infected.

According to current guidelines issued by the authorities antiviral medication should only be prescribed for patients in need of hospital treatment and for those belonging to any of the risk groups. Experts are currently of the opinion that persons in good basic health, whose symptoms are mild and who do not belong to any of the risk groups, should not be treated with antiviral medication. In most cases sufficient home treatment includes rest, the plentiful intake of fluids, and pain medication to alleviate the symptoms. When necessary, occupational health nurses will provide further information on home treatment by telephone.

In home care, persons infected with the influenza should stay in a separate room from others living in the same apartment. Those infected should avoid close contact with others and stay at home for the duration of the symptoms. If you have to go out, for example, to the doctor’s, you should cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or use a face mask if available.

When to call for the doctor?

Persons suspecting that they have been infected with the influenza who are pregnant or suffer from a long-term illness (cardiac or pulmonary disease requiring medication, diabetes, hepatic or renal failure, illness or treatment weakening the immune system, chronic neurological disease, morbid obesity) should immediately contact occupational health care at the onset of symptoms for the purpose of assessing the need for treatment. Children under the age of three are also in a risk group.

As a rule, adults whose symptoms are mild and who do not belong to any of the abovementioned risk groups do not require medical examination or special medication. They should be able to recover from the influenza by resting for approximately one week. This also applies to persons returning from abroad.

If your symptoms are severe or prolonged or if your overall condition deteriorates you should seek medical attention. Such symptoms include breathing problems, pain or sensations of pressure in the chest, acute dizziness or disorientation, and violent or constant vomiting. You should also seek treatment if flu-like symptoms disappear and then return with associated fever and aggravated coughing.

If you need to book a doctor’s appointment because of the flu, do it by telephone and inform the health station of the reason for your appointment so that it can be arranged as safely as possible. Those infected will be asked to wear a face mask in the waiting room, and the treatment staff may also be wearing masks when dealing with infected patients.

What to do in the workplace?

Each workplace should have operating practices in place in preparation for the possibility of a considerable number of personnel being absent owing to their own or their child’s illness. Key issues should include opportunities for working from home and being absent without a doctor’s or nurse’s certificate as well as the planning of functions that must be maintained despite absences.

TechTags Plugin [ A(H1N1) | swine flu | influenza A | epidemic ]

Ooopppsss…

But, if you are looking for Malaysian cuisines recipes, I strongly suggest this is the site you should not miss especially you are abroad for N period.

TechTags Plugin [ recipes | malaysian cusines | rasa malaysia | kwong wah yit poh ]

Yes, they did it!

TechTags Plugin [ magic | Hans Klok | The Divas of Magic | illusions ]

Invading Chinese delicacy crabs ’should be eaten’ to stop them damaging British riverbanks

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:18 AM on 12th February 2009

The species of crab which is wreaking havoc in the Thames could soon be under control – and in our tummies.

Scientists have deemed the river’s Chinese mitten crab population fit for human consumption.

They believe that catching the pest and selling it in restaurants and shops could be a viable way of controlling its numbers. [......]

So, eat more craps, sorry, is crabs.

TechTags Plugin [ crabs | craps | British | Chinese mitten crab | ecosystem ]

热闹的荷兰

在荷兰就有点觉得自己像芬兰的代言人， 譬如说有人会问你， 现在接近冬天， 太阳很快就下山吧? 是的，太阳可能在下午三点半就开始下山了。 他们就会惊讶得把嘴巴弄成O形，然后再问， 那么就可能上下班都看不到太阳啰. 是的, 一般都是这样的. (但是,心里还是在想,跟这里有什么不同呢? 只不过是一个小时之差而已.) 如果遇到比较爱讲话的人, 他们就会接下去说, 那边的人应该都会很忧郁吧. 是的, 芬兰人的自杀率是特别高的. 好像是很理所当然的样子. 通常，我都会这样告诉其他人, 如果你要打开芬兰人的话匡子, 就必须把他们灌醉. (If you want Finns to talk more, you have to make them drunk.) 这可不是我讲的, 连芬兰大学介绍册都是这么写的. 如果有机会跟芬兰人谈天的话, 你就会觉得很奇怪, 通常都是你问一句, 他们回答一句, 几乎是无法打烂沙煲问到底的. 还有, 如果你在人群中听到有人哈哈大笑的话, 你几乎可以百分之99.9肯定那个一定不是芬兰人. 芬兰人就是这么一幅拘谨的样子.

在荷兰,样子可有点不同了, 混乱和热闹几乎是分不开的. 在这里逛街可是有趣的多了, 比较多样化的品牌可以在这里找得到。除了必有的Espirit, Vero Moda, Zara, H&M, 这里更多了许多小规模但非常有特色的服装店. 这些店整列整行地排列在巷子里，是正好可以拿来消磨周末下午时间的地方。由于荷兰的地多数是平坦的, 所以骑脚踏车就变得非常方便起来. 尤其在市中心, 停泊在街道旁的脚踏车阵容是非常让人震惊的. 由于居住的地方离开大学较远, 而且是必须穿过市中心才到, 所以同事就一而再而三的警告我说千万要小心, 荷兰人骑脚踏车可是不让人的. 虽然我很逞强的告诉他说我可是天天在芬兰骑脚踏车的， 他看到我战战兢兢的样子, 就问道, 芬兰人都不骑脚踏车到市中心吗? 是的, 在H 城太多斜坡了, 通常都不骑的. 还有人曾经这样告诉我说， 荷兰人特别爱闯红灯。然后, 他还说他们可是看到交通灯转橙时都把速度加快, 芬兰人不是这样吗? 不是的, 芬兰人都会停下来的. 还有, 如果晚上八点才回家的话, 他们都会说一路上小心啊. 这句话可有点怪了,很久没听过这样的话了。在芬兰，你可是凌晨两点钟走在街上也不需担心的。

这样我就开始清楚两种城市的差别了, 一个是井井有条但是有点灰暗的城市. 另一个则是混乱但却是五光十色的城市。这两种不同面貌的城市，你又比较喜欢哪一个呢?

In conjunction with the celebration of 2nd anniversary of this blog, we decided to give this Muumimaailma (Moominworld) T-shirt to the lucky one with lucky draw method.

The lucky one is Khankhai 鈧凯. Congratulations!

Thank you very much for your time and support!

Learn about the Moomin family members at here (in English) and here (in Chinese)

TechTags Plugin [ Moomin | Muumi | Moominworld | Muumimaailma | 2nd anniversary ]

Time flies, Journeying is 2 years old since the first post entry on 16th July 2006. Last year, I posted small gifts as my compliment to the first three commenters in Journeying is 1 year old post entry. What about this year?

光阴似箭，转眼间这部落客已经是两岁了。 去年，我邮寄小小的礼物给在Journeying一岁了的文章里首三名留言者作为答谢大家一直以来的支持。那么，今年呢?

In conjunction with the celebration of 2nd anniversary of this blog, perhaps you can spend a little bit of your time answer the survey below as comment (copy and paste them with your answer in comment column). In return, I will give this Muumimaailma (Moominworld) T-shirt to the lucky one (lucky draw method). Closing date for this activity is on 23.07.2008 at 6:00pm (local time). This T-shirt will be posted (snail mail) from here to whatever location on this planet. Please leave your valid email address for further contact.

配合两周年的庆祝活动，期望您可以花一点点时间回答下面的调查作为这篇文章的留言 （复制并贴它们与您的答案在留言栏）。当然我会送出姆明世界T恤给其中一位的幸运留言者（抽签方式）作为回报。这项活动的截止日期是2008年7月23日下午当地时间六时正 。无论天涯海角这T恤将会以邮寄方式送到。因此，您必须留下您有效的电邮以方便进一步的联络。

1.Are you are a faithful reader of this blog? 您是本部落客的忠实读者吗？
A)Yes 是
B)No 不是
C)50:50
D)Other: 其他 _____

2.How long you already you know about this blog? 您知道本部落客多久了？
A)2 years 2年
B)1 year 1年
C) 6 months 6个月
D)> 3 months > 3个月
E)First time 第一次

3.How often do you visit this blog? 您多久到来本部落格?
A)once in several months 几个月一次
B)once in a month 一个月一次
C)once in a week 一星期一次
D)once in a day 一天一次
E)Other 其它:____

4.What do you think about the content of this blog? 您觉得本部落格的内容如何?
A)Horrible to read 不堪入目
B)Bad 烂
C)Normal 普通
D)Good 好
E)Augmented information 增广见闻

5.Do you find this blog is useful for trip planning? 您觉得本部落客对旅程规划有帮助吗?
A)A little bit 有一些
B)Not at all 完全没有
C)Other: 其他 _____

6.What do you think about the length of article in this blog? 您认为本部落格文章的长度如何?
A)Too long to read 读不下去地长
B)Very long 很长
C) Just nice 刚刚好
D) Short 短
E) Too short 太短

7.Reasons why you don’t leave any comment after reading? 您阅读后不留言的原因?
A)Don’t know what to say 无言可留
B)Lazy 懒惰 C) Not understand 读不明白
D) Not interested 没兴趣留言
E)Don’t understand English/Chinese 不会英文或中文

8.You have introduced this blog to who? 您曾经介绍过本部落格给谁看？
A)No one 没有
B)Partner 伴侣
C)Friends 朋友
D)Internet friends 网友
E)Colleagues 同事

9.Where are you usually read this blog? 您通常在哪里阅读本部落格？
A)Home 家里
B)Office 办公室
C)In school 校院内
D)Cafe 咖啡座
E)Toilet 厕所

10.What articles you like most? 您最喜欢什么文章是?
________________________

Thank you very much for your time. 谢谢您的宝贵时间

TechTags Plugin [ Anniversary | survey | MuuMi | Moomin | Naantali ]

TechTags Plugin [ busy | tired ]