August 16, 2010

Whether the Weather be: Overcast (57F/14C)
In the News: Sixth H1N1 death in New Zealand, from 2nd wave of flu virus
Events of Note: Unit 6: Seminar 6

* Discovering today's headline for this blog entry, made me feel a little strange. This time, last Winter, my little brother (who's actually 32) was seriously ill with H1N1. He was diagnosed late in his illness because his health provider initially thought that he just had a bad case of bronchitis. Only later, when my brother, in his own words, started running 'bright, fire-engine red at both ends' and showed up at the E.R. of the local hospital, was he tested for H1N1, and his case was confirmed. After a rocky night in the E.R, he was sent home, and quarantined for five days. He was lucky. If luck has anything to do with it. His chest continued to hurt for a long time after that. But, he survived. A while back, I wrote an article on Open Salon about the WHO response to the H1N1 pandemic, entitled, 'Pandemic of Profit?'. It explored the assertion that WHO's (World Health Organization's) panel of expert pandemic advisors may have been financially pre-disposed or biased in their advice, based upon evidence of their ties to and work with big pharmaceutical companies. Further, that predictions of the severity of H1N1 globally were deliberately overblown and manipulated. Then, this morning, I read that WHO has declared a post-pandemic phase, with the acknowledgment that New Zealand is an exception to this, and is experiencing what is called a second wave of the virus. As a public health person, I am most interested in prevention. I think that many health communities need to go back to basics and start with good, first-person infection control. Hand-washing, each and every time, every patient, before and after every encounter. Similar to the mantra that is learned with respect to medicating patients-right patient, right dose, right time, right reason. This should apply to everyone in the community, too. If it did, at the very least, we would see a lot less spread of seasonal illness. Sadly, complacency can leave us open to tragedy, in so many ways.

* On a less maudlin note, I went to my daughter's new school, this morning, and got her registered for her new school year at Kindergarten. Kindergarten!. My baby!. A baby no more, it seems. A new and significant chapter is about to begin in her life, whether or not she realizes it fully yet!.

* Well, I worked until 1:00am again. Awake at 6:00am. Another long day ahead, but I am feeling good, today, so we'll soon see where this day takes me.

Have a meaningful Monday!. See you in Seminar, tonight!.