Swine flu hits UiTM Seri Iskandar

Syafiq’s campus at UiTM Seri Iskandar has been closed due to swine flu outbreak. At least 10 students have been tested positive with the flu.

So Syafiq is now with his Opah in Kampong Kepayang, safely away from the virus. He did complain of having a slight fever and a cold earlier this week. But alhamdulillah, he was cleared by an on-campus doctor as having just common cold.

Swine influenza virus is said to be very common throughout pig populations worldwide. But swine influenza was first recognized to be a disease related to human influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic.

The 2009 H1N1 form of swine flu is one of the descendants of the strain that caused that 1918 flu pandemic.

The H1N1 outbreak began in Mexico when it was first identified in April 2009. It led to the closing down of most of Mexico City’s public and private offices and facilities in order to contain its spread.

And, in early June, the virus spread globally. Malaysia is not spared, of course. Yesterday saw the first H1N1-related death in this country.

So everyone, please take extra to avoid being infected:

1. Practice good hand hygiene: wash your hands with soap and water often, particularly after travelling on public transport.

2. Use anti-bacterial hand gel: this is said to be better than using soap.

3. Use tissues: cough or sneeze into a clean tissue and throw it into a bin immediately.