Christian Peregin
The funny side of the flu
Friends of Malta's first two swine flu victims yesterday joked about their quarantine experience on social-networking site Facebook.
One of them posted a photo of himself wearing a surgical mask and assured his friends that he did not yet have the disease.
The two victims, both rugby players, caught the disease while on holiday in Spain with about 20 of their friends who are all now under quarantine for seven days.
On Facebook they complained about having to stay home but rejoiced about making the front pages of the newspapers.
They also joked about passing on the disease to people they had met over the past few days.
Instead of being shocked or worried, they took the disease with a pinch of salt, possibly because they knew that their friends were already recovering.
11 Comments
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charles zammit
Jul 5th 2009, 16:22
very funny indeed....what statistics are showing abroad is that while it appears that the swine flu is attacking young healthy people mostly, fatalities occur amongst people who have cronic conditions such as those with respiratory problems, heart problems, etc, meaning that although these joval young people will get over it in a few days time the virus they help to inport to malta might hit others who might not be so lucky....nothing to laugh about
Mike Farrugia
Jul 5th 2009, 10:45
@ Max
As you can see, the figures have not doubled and there are no reported cases of cross infection occurring locally. All cases contacted the virus while abroad.
So i am right to say that it is a storm in a teacup but you are also right in saying that one must be prudent. Not in this case only but in all cases of influenza and other viruses, especially meningitis, hepatitis and many more.
In my opinion, the health authority should embark on a huge promotional campaign to stress the importance of basic hygiene and anyone coughing, sneezing or running a temperature, should be sent home.(...and I repeat, for any viral infection not just H1N1)
Danika Vella
Jul 5th 2009, 10:11
@yani ellul
what emergency room story?!?
Vic Phillips
Jul 4th 2009, 09:56
What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?
Answer - For Bird Flu you need 'tweetment' and for Swine Flu you meed 'oinkment'
Max. galea(x-pat)
Jul 3rd 2009, 23:43
I say Mike Farrugia ol'chap do you still think that its a storm in a cup still, remember its 16 now and riseing by to-morrow and the next day it will double for sure., so i wouldn't take this matter very lightly if i were you and the only way to to keep away from crowds and use hygiene.
Neville Calleja
Jul 3rd 2009, 17:24
I wish all those who were, as described below, the unlucky ones to get it to Malta. First of all, congratulations to them and their caring physician for correctly alerting the health services. That was a very responsible act. May they keep heeding the advice given to them so that the infection is limited and its spread arrested. Nevertheless, basic precautions should still be exercised as detailed in the leaflet we have all received at home and such precautions should not be thrown to the wind when we are abroad. True, it is not as dangerous for healthy individuals as was SARS or H5N1 but neverthless all of us have close contacts who are less healthy or maybe have babies at home so caution should be exercised. Nobody wants to feel the guilt of having contributed to the death of anyone, be it an old man or a baby.
charmaine magro
Jul 3rd 2009, 16:18
Good for these people if they are managing to joke about this situation.. these youths went on a holiday, and were the unlucky ones - getting swine flu is not caused by irresponsable behaviour on their part. I am sure this is a pretty frustrating situation for them and their families, without the added sarcastic comments of some of the blogs in here.
Wishing the sick people a quick recovery , and I am sure that your positive attitude will help you get better sooner!
D.Bugeja
Jul 3rd 2009, 11:32
Please note that Mark is correct, it is simply a normal influenza which at the moment there's no vaccine for, it will be readily available in August. Yes, maybe some took it lightly and joked about it, there's no harm in doing so.
No one understands how annoying it is to be stuck at home doing jack s*** even if he/she has no symptoms
We were unlucky to be the ones to get it to Malta, but i suggest you refrain from writing such articles and scaring people even more. It is a normal influenza, only those with a weak immune system, or babies or possibly old people should worry a little as deaths across the world occurred only when people had health problems and normally those people are prone to be attacked in a stronger manner.
Bertie O'Hara
Jul 3rd 2009, 11:11
Yes but i think they will wipe that smerk off their faces if they had the virus, don't count your chickens me'ol sonner, look at us in the UK, its spreading so still take precautions, i think the flu virus is no joke.
Mike Farrugia
Jul 3rd 2009, 10:12
In my opinion this is nothing more than a storm in a teacup. This virus is an influenza virus like all others. The only difference is that it is new and most do not have protection against it.
But dont all 3-7 year olds, who get their seasonal influenza for the first time from school, be in same situation? What's the fuss about?
yani ellul
Jul 3rd 2009, 10:07
Grande mario..... hahaha pity they dont know the emergency room story hehehehheh