Pigs can fly

Temperatures around the world has risen a notch since the last weekend. I am not talking about the warmer weather due to climatic changes. Rather, I am referring to the number of people getting temperatures after being infected with the swine flu, if that’s the aapropriate name for it.

Perhaps it is fortuitous that the swine flu struck instead of the more fatal, unless proven otherwise later, H5N1 avian flu strain which the world has been preparing for over the last few years.

While deaths related to the swine variant of the flu is still contained to people in Mexico, the speed and extent of its spread is astounding. No thanks to the highly connected network of international air travel these days.

Since the time I first heard of the outbreak in Mexico, last Sunday, countries across the globe have started to report cases of infection. US, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, are just a handful of countries with ‘confirmed’ cases while a dozen others are awaiting results on tests conducted on suspected cases.

While I would normally be concerned with such adverse developments, this potential flu pandemic is more worrisome since I will be flying off to South Korea later today.

Well, there’s only so much one can do. Just need to ensure that my hands are properly washed before touching my eyes, nose and mouth. It’s surprising that one will unconsiously touch these body parts multiple times within an hour. I know since I have tried refraining such contact in preparation for the more stringent ‘efforts’ once I enter the airport and board the plane.

It’s gonna be a painful experience.

Well, my bags all packed. I am just looking forward to a nice holiday over the next couple of days.