H1N1 threat!

The alarm has been hit! WHO again increased the threat of H1N1 swine influenza outbreak to phase 5 (just a step away from a full PANDEMIC influenza!). Will there be a pandemic outbreak again? No one knows yet. We'll have to prepare for the worst to come yet hope for the best.

Some facts about the H1N1 swine influenza (I read from the WHO website and newspapers):

1. A newly emerged flu virus strain containing genetic elements from the pig, bird and human. This means the pig and the bird can be the vector to cause transmission of the infection. Human-human transmission has also been documented, raising the danger risk of this infection.

2. Symptoms caused by the infection are fever, lethargy, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, sore throat, maybe vomiting and diarrhea.

3. No particular vaccine has been developed for H1N1 infection yet. However, 2 antiviral drugs - Relenza (GlaxoSmithKline) and Tamiflu (Roche AG) have been shown to work against the H1N1 swine flu strain.

3. It is safe to eat pork meat as the influenza virus does not transmit through food. Ensure that the meat is handled and cooked well. Temperature of 70ºC and above kills the H1N1 virus.

4. Since there is no vaccine to protect from the virus yet, all we can do is preventing the spread of germs which may cause influenza.
- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners
, especially after you cough or sneeze.

- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.


For more information and updates about the H1N1 swine influenza, you can visit:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov

(Sorry, I would like to put up the address as links but there's problem in generating the links. =p)

Swine influenza, the culprit!

Plans are withheld! Amendments may fall in. The culprit behind these is the SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS.

With just a small corner in the newspaper reporting about some kind of flu virus suspected days back, the news grew and now, it's the hot topic everywhere. This flu virus was found to have undergone mutation and emerged as a virus carrying strains from pig, bird and human. To make things worse, human-human transmission is documented. No vaccine for it yet. And with the decision by WHO to increase the warning of becoming a pandemic outbreak up to phase 4 (2 more phases away from declaration of a full pandemic outbreak), it's understood why people are showing more concern on the issue and fearing for the worse. Here, let us keep our fingers crossed that vaccines will be developed, there won't be a pandemic outbreak and the whole swine influenza situation will be under controlled. Save the world!


With this outbreak going on, getting more and more serious by days, my trips out of Malaysia are set on a shaky edge. Cancellation of plans is a MAYBE but no decision is made. Well, I guess what I can do is just waiting and seeing how things are progressing.

** FINGERS CROSSED **

Shortest exam in UM life

I'm done with it!
Last paper. It was the shortest exam in my UM life - one and a half hour paper. Flip flip BNF, flip flip MIMS (it's an open book exam) - time's up! Initially I thought it was a 2-hour paper, mana tau... walao eh! Gan jiong!!! But, anyway, it's done.

Went to movie with coursemates just now - Fast & Furious 4. I'm not going to review it here, in order not to be a spoiler for you all. Hehe~ Hm, I'll give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. I missed watching movies in cinema, forgot when was the last time I did so. Cinema, I'm going to visit you more this holiday!! ^_^
Before entering the cinema, something caught my eyes. The poster and trailer for Harry Potter and the half blood prince is out!! Saw it at GSC. Ohhh, my long-anticipated movie! It'll hit the cinemas in July! Still got 2 months of anticipation. Excited!

After the movie, thought wanna go to the Ampang look out point, but the BOSS of the night refused. Reason: his Kenari was not tahan lasak enough to climb up the hill. >.<''Haiz~ No choice. So, the night just ended like that.

Back home, end story.

Going to Fraser Hill tomorrow. ^_^

Countdowns~

Here's my queueing-up-confirmed events & activites so far. I'm really countdowning and looking forward to them! ^_^

1. 27/4 - My LAST paper in UM Pharmacy course.
2. 28/4 - Fraser Hill Trip with coursemates.
3. 2/5 - LEEHOM's Music Man Concert 2009.
4. 11-12/5 - Thesis presentation (Marking the full stop to my Pharmacy course).
5. 17/5 - Taiwan Trip.
6. 22/6 - Bali Trip.

Awww... I need to take up the compulsory 30 hours CPD training for the insurance thing during holidays (This one not really looking forward to it, hehe).

And of course there will be lots of unplanned outings as well as trips to be planned!!

Hmmm, HMmm, HMMMmm...

Hot on shelf!!!

缘相忆
The long-waiting 2005-2009 UM Pharmacy graduating students class magazine (药剂毕业刊) is finally out today! Limited edition of 29 copies only!
Although the magazine will only be distributed during the coming Fraser Hill trip on 28th April, I've already knew the content of the whole magazine as I was one of the committees, hehe~

Special thanks and appreciation to Chun Wei for initiating the publication of this magazine. *SALUTE*

Have a few glimpses of the magazine ^_^




The committee members. I was in-charged under the decoration section (as my chinese is 'limited edition' also, haha) ^_^


The 29 chinese in my batch plus 3 chinese lecturers.


My contribution for the magazine. I spent 2 nights to complete it, referring and figuring out the small details which could represent each coursemate. Hope they like it. How's my drawing?

It's not the end yet

13th April, 10.25 a.m.
Official submission of my dissertation.



Guess won't be looking at my FYP until after my final exam. It's just a comma, not a full stop.

The submission also marked the start of my final study week in UM. Warming up for the 'STUDY,STUDY & STUDY ALL DAY' routine for the coming 2 weeks.

I WILL SURVIVE!!!


Had a crazy night with 3 lovely coursemates yesterday! We went out dinner but ended up dinner + sing k at SS2 K-box from 7 something to 2 something in the morning! And we were shivering all night long, but still reluctant to leave, haha~

Hopefully can go again after our finals! ^_^

生了! 生了! 终於生了!

11th April 2009, 6.00 to 6.30p.m.

It was the delivery of my quadruplets baby dissertations!

谢谢各位 who had directly and indirectly assisting in the process towards and during the delivery! A huge "Thank you" to all of you!

To darl~, thanks for all the sticky notes in the PDF files...

^_^

The Chong's '85 babies

Introducing the Chong's '85 babies!!


OPPSS! A bit 'lari cahaya', hehe =p (lazy to censor it, never mind, it's normal for kids, lols)
From left: MunChoong, Me, SiewMei and Ping
There should be another one but I don't know why he wasn't in the frame. Where were you, Mr. Thomson Chong??

The photo was taken in 1987 when I was still 1 year ++. There were 5 new members added into the Chong family in 1985! =p




22 years later...






Somehow we gathered again to have another snapshot (at a cousin's wedding). Taken on March 2009. Again, Mr.Thomson Chong was not in the frame.

How's the change? ^_^
I am still the shortest among them >.<'' Now, they are manager in HSBC (lady in black), technician (the guy) and PAISEH! not sure the actual occupation of the lady in red, some kind of OL I think. Mr.Thomson and me are still students. This is our Mr.Thomson Chong ^_^


Wonder how do we look like in another 22 years from now...

Farewell to second home

When everyone's starting their FYP lab work, I started too.
When everyone's progressing with their lab work, I progressed too (but with little).
When everyone's finishing their lab work, I still had loads to go.
By the time everyone finished their lab work, I was still there - doing mine.

Staring jealously at my coursemates, one by one, cleaning and tidying up their desks, I continued my lab work, with depressed heart.

TODAY.
Finally, finally and finally, I'm done with my lab work!!! No celebration though as the write up is still lying there for me to finish it. Have to sacrifice my sleep for it from now.

FAREWELL, PHARMACY PRACTICE LABORATORY, my second home for the past 4 months.