MALAYSIA HAS H1N1 VACCINE FOR SWINE FLU

Bernama - Tuesday, April 28

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has the vaccine for swine flu which can be used to stop the spread of the disease to this country.

Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin said the H1N1 vaccine should be injected into pigs as a preventive measure following reports of 81 people killed by the swine flu in Mexico.

He told Bernama that the department was only waiting for the directive from the Health Ministry to carry out vaccination on the livestock.

He believed that the H1N1 vaccine was also used by pig farms in other countries as a preventive measure against swine flu.

Dr Abd Aziz also disclosed that Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had issued a directive to all State Veterinary Services directors to monitor pig farms in their respective states as a precaution and to report on any sign of swine flu infection.

-- MORE

SWINE-VACCINE 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

"Stern action will be taken against them if they fail to do this. They must also ensure that all the pig breeders follow instructions like their workers must wear masks," he said.

Dr Abd Aziz said state livestock breeders' associations were required to cooperate with the Veterinary Services Department by reporting on any symptom of swine flu.

"If their workers have similar symptoms for influenza, high fever, sore throat and body aches, they must be given leave and undergo medical examination immediately."

Dr Abd Aziz said so far the department had not received any report of swine flu symptoms in the country, while the disease also had the potential of being spread to birds but the possibility was remote.

"If avian flu can spread through food like by eating chicken, swine flu cannot be spread by eating pork but through human contact," he said.

More information on the swine flu can be obtained by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300, or by visiting website www.moh.gov.my.

-- BERNAMA

IMMIGRATION ALERT OVER SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO

Bernama - Sunday, April 26

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department has gone on the alert over a swine flu outbreak in Mexico and is ready to work closely with the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of the disease to Malaysia, its director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said today.

"We are awaiting instructions from the Ministry of Health by tomorrow and we will provide full cooperation at all entry points," he told Bernama.

He said the department had experience as it had provided an effective service during the outbreak of the Asian bird flu.

The latest swine flu epidemic in Mexico has so far claimed 62 lives, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that some of the deaths had been confirmed as being due to a type of swine flu labelled A(H1N1) not previously seen in pigs or humans.

Latest wire reports said the swine flu had spread to the United States and that WHO was concerned that it might spread to the rest of the world.

-— MORE

FLU-IMMIGRATION 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

The symptoms of the swine flu are similar to those of ordinary flu, with fever, cough, runny nose and body aches.

The latest flu is said to be more virulent than the previous one as it is a combination of the avian, human and swine viruses.

Experts said there was yet a vaccine for the latest flu. However, they advised that the best precaution would be to keep the hands clean by washing to avoid being infected.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has reportedly advised Malaysians not to panic, saying the government would take all necessary steps to stop the disease from spreading to Malaysia.

He said the ministry would also keep the people regularly informed of developments.

-- BERNAMA

Mencegah jangkitan selsema

Selsema merupakan jangkitan salur pernafasan atas, yang memberi kesan terhadap salur-salur hidung dan kerongkong yang disebabkan oleh virus. Terdapat lebih dari 200 virus selsema. Jenis-jenis virus mungkin berbeza pada setiap musim. Antibiotik tidak akan menghapuskan virus-virus. Jangkitan-jangkitan itu akan hilang dengan sendirinya, kecuali jika terjadi jangkitan sekunder. Antibiotik mungkin dan hanya diperlukan apabila terdapat jangkitan sekunder. Selsema boleh tersebar dengan mudah apabila seseorang itu bercakap, membatuk atau bersin atau dengan sentuhan langsung. Kanak-kanak dengan kerintangan penyakit yang rendah berbanding dewasa mendapat selsema dengan lebih kerap, misalannya 6-12 kali dalam setahun, manakala dewasa, mendapat selsema sebanyak 2 kali dalam setahun.

Gejala-gejala

- Kerongkong yang kering dan sakit – Ini mungkin merupakan gejala pertama yang dialami.
- Pengeluaran lendir yang cair yang memekat kemudiannya.
- Bersin.
- Hidung tersumbat. Ini menyebabkan kesukaran untuk menyusu bayi.
- Sakit kepala.
- Adakalanya, demam yang ringan.
- Sakit badan.
- Mata berair.

Komplikasi-komplikasi

Tiada komplikasi yang serius yang berlaku dengan jangkitan rhinovirus. Akan tetapi, selsema yang mudah boleh menjadi lebih serius apabila jangkitan bakteria sekunder berlaku :-

- Bronkitis – jangkitan pada salur-salur pernafasan yang menyebabkan keradangan.
- Laringitis – keradangan pada laring (bahagian atas tenggorok) dan peti suara.
- Otitis Media – keradangan pada telinga tengah dan ini adalah lebih biasa di kalangan kanak-kanak.
- Sinusitis – Jangkitan yang merebak ke sinus (rongga tulang pada hidung).
- Pneumonia – jangkitan yang merebak ke bahagian bawah ke dalam paru-paru.
- Jangkitan bakteria sekunder.
- Penyakit-penyakit pernafasan yang sedia ada boleh dicetus atau diganggu, misalannya lelah.

Mereka-mereka dengan sistem ketahanan badan yang rendah mempunyai lebih banyak peluang untuk mendapat selsema dan berlakunya komplikasi-komplikasi. Mereka-mereka yang lebih berisiko adalah : -

- Mereka-mereka yang kurang khasiat makanannya.
- Warga-warga tua
- Golongan yang sangat muda.

Ingat untuk berunding dengan doktor jika

- Selsema yang mudah berlarutan melebihi seminggu, disertai demam yang malebihi 38°C
atau demam ringan yang berpanjangan.
- Berlakunya sakit dada.
- Terdapat kesusahan bernafas.
- Terdapat kahak berwarna kuning.

Penjagaan kendiri

Tidak terdapat rawatan yang tertentu tetapi rawatan yang simptomatik boleh dijalankan apabila berlakunya gejala-gejala penyakit.

Di antara perkara-perkara yang boleh dilakukan oleh sesorang itu ialah :-
- Berehat
- Rawatan simptomatik, seperti dengan agen analgesik (penahan sakit), yang mengurangkan demam dan
antihistamin, boleh dijalankan dengan ubat-ubatan yang boleh dibeli di kaunter, selepas berunding dengan
pegawai farmasi anda.
- Minum banyak cecair, kedua-dua air dan jus.
- Inhalasi (sedutan).

Elakkan

- Merokok.
- Membatuk atau bersin berdekatan orang/benda lain, terutamanya bayi dan makanan.
- Memaksa hembusan dengan kedua-dua liang hidung tertutup kerana ini mungkin
mengakibatkan jangkitan di telinga tengah.
- Memandu semasa mengambil ubat-ubatan untuk batuk dan selsema.
- Ubat-ubatan yang mengandungi salisilat, misalannya aspirin.

Tabiat-tabiat yang baik

- Berpakaian secara munasabah bergantung kepada suhu persekitaran supaya kesejukan
dan kepanasan yang melampau dapat dielakkan.
- Tidur secukupnya.
- Tutup hidung dan mulut anda dengan tisu apabila anda sedang bersin.
- Basuh tangan dengan sempurna sebelum memasak, makan atau mengendalikan
makanan.
- Hembus hidung anda, bila perlu, dengan satu atau kedua-dua liang hidung terbuka.
- Apabila melakukan suai perubatan, pastikan apakah jenis ubat itu dan apakah kesan yang dituntutnya. Runding dengan pegawai farmasi anda jika terdapat kemusykilan.
- Baca arahan dengan teliti sebelum mengambil sebarang ubat.

Pencegahan

- Amalkan gaya hidup yang sihat.
- Makan makanan yang seimbang.
- Senam selalu.

Info about swine flu

What is the swine flu?

Sporadic swine influenza A virus (SIV) infection of humans may produce a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms. Many human cases of swine influenza A virus infection have had a history of recent direct physical contact with pigs prior to illness onset. However, close (within 6 feet), but not direct contact with pigs, also has been reported among human swine influenza A virus cases. Limited, non sustained human-to-human swine influenza A virus transmission has been documented in the published literature. In addition, some confirmed swine influenza A virus cases have not had a history of exposure to pigs.

How many swine flu viruses are there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Worried about swine flu? Wash your hands

WASHINGTON, April 25 — Worried about swine flu? There is one easy way to protect against infection, health experts agree — handwashing.

Global health officials are worried about an unusual new strain of flu that may have killed as many as 68 people in Mexico, with 1,000 showing possible symptoms. It has infected at least eight people in the United States.

Officials at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health said they expected to find more cases in the coming days and weeks.

Little can be done to prevent an outbreak of flu from spreading, health experts caution, but they say common sense measures can help individuals protect themselves.

Number one is hand-washing, they say — a surprisingly effective way to prevent all sorts of diseases, including ordinary influenza and the new and mysterious swine flu virus.

Cover your cough or your sneeze, wash your hands frequently, advised Dr. Richard Besser, acting CDC director. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows little particles of virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes.

Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should see a doctor to be tested.

STAYING HOME

“If you have the flu, then you shouldn’t be getting on the bus or getting on the plane and traveling,” Besser told reporters in a telephone briefing.

“Social distancing” is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community.

Flu experts have also long advised against trying to stockpile personal supplies of antivirals. Tamiflu and Relenza are two drugs shown to work against the current strains of seasonal influenza. Tamiflu or oseltamivir, invented by Gilead Sciences Inc and marketed by Roche AG, is a pill while GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, known generically as zanamivir, is inhaled.

Both drugs treat a flu infection, making it less serious and perhaps making the illness last fewer days. But they must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms to do any good. They can also prevent infection with garden-variety flu if taken, for example, by a family member caring for a sick relative. No one knows if they will do the same with the new swine flu.

And the average person is not going to know when, precisely, to begin taking the drug. Many infections look like flu, says paediatrician and immunologist Dr Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

Viruses and bacteria alike can evolve resistance to drugs they encounter frequently. “If you have Tamiflu at home and you take it for a cold or give it for a respiratory virus that is not influenza, we will be unable to use these drugs when we encounter a lethal strain of flu,” Moscona says. — Reuters

Surprise Nutritionist No-Nos

Posted Tue, Apr 07, 2009, 2:21 pm PDT

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Ya, ya, we know what foods nutritionists want us to avoid -- bacon, coffee, hamburgers, fried stuff... But a good number of friendly-looking foods also fall into that category. Instead of fearing all foods, I asked Today Show nutritionist and bestselling author of Joy's LIFE Diet, Joy Bauer to determine her top picks for seemingly safe foods that actually do not do a body good...

JOY BAUER'S 5 PICKS-TO-SKIP...

2% Milk
The FDA allows 2% milk to be labeled reduced-fat, but that's a relative term (whole milk is 3.25% fat). Calorically speaking, the difference between whole and 2% milk isn't all that impressive: 150 calories for a cup of whole milk vs. 120 for a cup of 2%. Skim milk, on the other hand, has the same protein and calcium content as whole and 2%, but weighs in at 80 fat-free calories per cup. Assuming you drink a cup a day, switching to skim will save you more than 14,000 calories in a year's time. That simple substitution translates to a four-pound yearly weight loss!

Whole Wheat Bagels
While it's true that whole grains, and products made from whole grains, are much healthier than their refined flour counterparts, some whole grain foods are not worth the calories. Take bagels, for instance. A big, New York-style whole wheat bagel has just as many calories (350 or more) as one made with white flour. Definitely stick with whole grains when it comes to bread products, but instead of your Sunday morning bagel and lox ritual, try a toasted whole grain English muffin (130 calories) and lox instead. You'll save at least 200 calories, and who doesn't love all those nooks and crannies?!

Chicken Caesar Salad
It's easy to see why our next trickster, Chicken Caesar salad, leads people astray. After all, aren't we constantly being told to eat more vegetables, and to choose lean sources of protein? But McDonald's Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken contains 410 calories and 24 grams of fat, while their Quarter Pounder has the same number of calories, and even less fat. And that's nothing compared to the classic Chicken Caesar salad recipes you'll find at local restaurants and chains, which contain approximately 1,100 calories and 96 grams of fat.

The culprits, of course, are the creamy Caesar dressing and oil-soaked croutons. Nearly half the calories in McDonald's salad comes from the dressing, so if you switch to their low-fat balsamic vinaigrette, you save 150 calories, as well as 15 grams of fat. The calories in a classic Chicken Caesar almost anywhere can be nearly slashed in half if you lose the croutons and substitute a teaspoon of olive oil (two dashes) and unlimited vinegar for the dressing. Can't live without the Caesar dressing? Request it on the side and go easy!

Granola
This cereal was invented in 1863, and then revived 100 years later in the "crunchy granola" 1960's. Originally a simple mixture of rolled oats, nuts, and honey, granola has morphed into a product its 19th century creator would hardly recognize. Bear Naked's latest "all natural" flavor contains 21 ingredients, including four types of sweeteners, chocolate, and peanut butter. It's also 140 calories per ¼ cup (that's a whopping 280 per serving!). Even low-fat granola packs a caloric punch. One serving of Health Valley's Real Oat Bran Almond Crunch clocks in at 200 calories. Consider that the average breakfast bowl holds about two cups of cereal, and you see why granola spells "trouble."

TIP: If you really like starting your day with granola, stick with ¼ cup, and mix it with a less caloric cereal, like Bran Flakes or plain Cheerios. Another option is to sprinkle one to two tablespoons on low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese.

Fruit Smoothies
Sure, all that fruit makes smoothies healthier than a milk shake, but your waist doesn't know the difference between the calories in berries, bananas, soy milk, and antioxidant "boosts," and those in ice cream, whole milk, and chocolate syrup. In fact, Jamba Juice's original size Peanut Butter Moo'd® smoothie contains an astounding 840 calories. That's 160 calories more than a medium chocolate shake at Burger King!

You can still enjoy smoothies, just order smart or make your own. "Jamba Light" options contain 150-160 calories per 16-ounce serving, and the same size "All Fruit" selections are 200-220 calories. If you have a blender, try pureeing a sliced banana, one cup of strawberries, one cup of skim milk, and ice to taste. This healthy homemade concoction contains about 230 calories, and will save you lots of dough (smoothies can be pricey!).

10 Essential Health Tips

(The Basics to Practice Every Day)

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.