August school holidays ramblings

It's almost over, the August school holidays. Because of Merdeka day, the kiddies get an extra day off on Monday.

It has been a rather muted holiday period, I feel. On account of the still-spreading H1N1, activities outside of the home have been limited. We made a trip to Toys R Us, One Utama (there's no Toys R Us in Ipoh), between 10:15 to 11:30 and dashed home before more people came to the shopping centre. But the place was quieter than usual, anyway. Most people must be more wary about going out these days. Other than eating out a few times, the kids just relaxed and played at home. They don't complain, though, as they like being home together.

Nobody seems to know whether the H1N1 has peaked in Malaysia or is the worst yet to come. Nobody wants to order a shutdown of schools or public life, fearing the losses the economy might suffer. I just read that the planned vaccination program for H1N1 in Australia is facing problems as the govt won't underwrite or indemnify doctors who administer the vaccines in the event there are side effects from the vaccine. Of course the vaccination program can't proceed unless doctors are insured. It's much more litigous over there than here in Malaysia, where a doctor here could make a mistake that causes a child to lose her arm and still could continue to practise medicine without too much pain/ punishment for the doctor. If that happened in Australia, you can be sure the doctor will be sued and possibly stripped of his licence.

It's been unseasonably wet this week. Good for the plants I suppose, and it saves us from watering. But too much grey skies and pitter-pattering rainfall takes a toll on spirits. Makes one ruminate on things that usually would not enter the mind. I hope it will be a sunny, cheery day tomorrow.

Where are H1N1 clusters in Malaysia?

Govt to weigh pros and cons of H1N1 disclosure (theStar, 15 Aug 2009)
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will meet with Health Ministry officials to discuss if there is a need to disclose to the public the specific areas where many influenza A(H1N1) cases have been reported.
Muhyiddin said there was a need to look into whether providing such information to the public would be beneficial or would cause panic.
Furthermore, he said, even if the affected areas were disclosed, it did not mean that those in other areas could let their guard down and stop taking the necessary precautions.
“We have passed the containment stage and are currently in the mitigation stage.
“The percentage (of the spread of the flu) is still small, but it is still worrying and should not be taken lightly because it is life-threatening,” he told a press conference here after launching the Crime Prevention Campaign here yesterday.
He was responding to a call by Pahang Regent Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah for the Government to make known the stage the country was in due to the spread of the flu so that people would know the severity of the situation.

In this age where the dissemination of correct information is important and crucial, I believe that the govt should in fact be upfront about where clusters of local transmissions of H1N1 are. The official line used is that the govt does not want to create panic. Let's face it, the information will get out, sooner or later, and if not via official govt disclosure, it will be through the grapevine, word of mouth, sms blasts or email circulation.

Responsible and official disclsoure will serve as a caution for people not to visit the affected areas if there is no necessity for the public to go there. Would the govt knowingly want Malaysians to go to affected areas and increase the risk of exposure and further transmissions? Remember all the criticism directed towards China for their opaque and belated communications regarding SARS?

I hope Tan Sri Muyyiddin will make the appropriate decision. Thank you, Regent of Pahang, for the suggestion.

H1N1 in Malaysia

Published: Tuesday August 11, 2009 MYT 12:21:00 PM
A(H1N1): Death toll now 38 with six more deaths
By DHARMENDER SINGH
PUTRAJAYA: The death toll due to the Influenza A (H1N1) now stands at 38 with six more deaths reported over the last 24 hours.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said new cases recorded also stood at all time high with 270 bringing the total number of cases to 2, 253.

The above was reported in the Star's online news feed today. Since a week ago, the fatality stats have been climbing steadily, as has the rate of infection. 270 new cases in the last 24 hours!

But reporting has been muted and the govt's response has merely been that they are aware of the situation, that screening may not be done on everyone with flu symptoms , only those at risk are warded while others impose self quarantine and receive outpatient treatment. The Ministry of Education said that they will start to distribute thermometers and face masks to schools, ensuring that every school has at least one (1) thermometer. One thermometer for a whole school??

Malaysia has experienced SARS and the bird flu in the past. But what proactive steps have been rolled out to ensure minimal spread of infectious diseases among our children in schools?

I understand that a neighbouring country which also suffered through SARS and bird flu has established clear guidelines and action to be taken by schools in the event of the spread of disease. Such as ensuring each and every student has a thermometer (not an entire school sharing one thermometer), checking students' temperatures twice a day in school and sending those with fever home.

The August school holidays are approaching and with the H1N1 situation worsening, I would hope that the govt would consider closing schools early for a 2-week holiday instead of the usual 1-week.