It’s coming so close to home—everyday we hear of confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) or swine flu virus. The numbers have reached 300+, the highest so far in South East Asia.
De La Salle, then Ateneo (liking the numbers with the statistics in UAAP, both schools vying this time not for a higher number but lower), then other schools followed suit—the other day it was Miriam College, yesterday UP, and today Claret School. I have a daughter in Ateneo, 3 kids in UP, a daughter in Miriam (incidentally the girl tested positive is her friend), and the youngest in Claret School. In my former office, a girl that I know was tested positive. It is now discouraging to meet face-to-face with friends from the former office. Maybe, next time, I tell them when they ask me out for lunch, dinner or drinks. I shudder at the thought of public commute—the MRT or the cab.
BA came home from school at lunch time today—planted a kiss on my cheek. He said he was sad because he has colds, and that he could not now hug his friends. He even has to suppress his sneezing, lest people around him would give dagger like glances or avoid him like a plague. He contented himself with texting friends, plurking and twittering.
In Miriam, a whole senior class and a dance troupe are now on a 10-day quarantine. I heard that their lessons are now being sent online. Cool—that’s distance learning for a while for these high school students. Schools should be prepared for this eventuality—if the pandemic becomes more widespread and schools are forced to close down, then contingency measures like this should be taken. We cannot have our children out of school for a long time.
Now, the more parents who have chosen home schooling for their children are feeling that they have made the right decision. At least they have less worries about their children being exposed to the virus. Pity the little ones who will get sick, or any of our children for that matter.
Classes have been suspended in some schools. For most of us parents, this is not anymore a joke. Seriously, our lives are being affected by this phenomenon. There are a lot of parents who have experienced sleepless nights thinking about the eventuality of their kids becoming sick. There are those mothers who have spent all of their waking hours disinfecting anything that their children place their soiled hands on. There are those people who wear masks in public (maybe even in the confines of home) places. And there is the added expense of buying alcohol bottles or alcogels in bulk, even hoarding them. Now the alcohol companies must be rejoicing—imagine the profits they are raking in. Even the soap companies are making a lot of money—children are taught to wash their hands with soap and water for as long as singing the Happy Birthday song twice.
There were even rumors that the UAAP would not push through in July, but this was dispelled by the organizers. Imagine 16,000 people in an ADMU-DLSU game sharing viruses in a crowded arena. Even if UAAP Season 72 pushes through, do you think that the same thousands of people would still watch the games live? There is cable TV after all.
With at least 8 million Filipinos living and working abroad, and a lot of them moving in and out of the country, it cannot be denied that one time or another, those of us staying here come into close contact with them—relatives and friends. Travel is one of the culprits of the spread of A(H1N1) virus. Most of the A(H1N1) carriers have either returned from abroad or were exposed to people who have recently traveled.
A(H1N1) has definitely changed the lifestyle of many of us Filipinos. Now, will it force us to be less physical and intimate with those that we love? with our families? with our friends?
For me, personally, a family of online fanatics—will there be a time that we would content ourselves with sharing smileys and emoticons with loved ones, family members and friends, instead of the warm hugs, kisses and embraces?
I wonder…
By the way if you do not have a copy yet, get the H1N1 Flu Booklet here, straight from the United Nations.
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4 responses so far ↓
Mauie // Jun 18, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Which reminds me a scene this afternoon when my son got home. Their school has one confirmed case. He didn’t want to go near me and kiss me at least on the cheek. He thought I was afraid to go near him. To think that the school and the parents thought everything that was needed to be done were done, may nakalusot pa rin.
Denise // Jun 19, 2009 at 11:44 am
I know what you mean. I was also a bit paranoid when I got the sniffles and a cough. Adding to that, I had difficulty breathing. I thought that my encounter with that FOB Chinese girl gave me swine flu. Luckily, it was all just stress. Whew!
lisaflor // Jun 19, 2009 at 5:19 pm
There was a swine flu scare at the Megamall last week, and since I take a shuttle service at the Megamall parking lot, I advised my family to not greet me when I get home. That they should prepare my towel at the bathroom so I can go straight there and get a bath before going near them. I am paranoid that I might infect my 3yo son with the virus! And we take double doses of vitamin C. Plus we had an ordinary influenza vaccine. My son wanted to come with me in the office today, and i would have wanted to bring him, but I remembered the swine flu scare, and I think he’s safest at home.
The flu booklet you forwarded have been very helpful, tita. Thanks.
BIO // Jun 21, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I guess, yes, there’s that factor. I was an outpatient in the Medical City ER last weekend when I got runny nose. Going home with a face mask weirded out some of my housemates.
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