WHO has the highest priority for influenza? PREGNANT WOMEN!
For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women be placed at the highest priority for influenza vaccination. This is a just-released positional paper dated 23 November 2012. In essence, this leading authority acknowledges that pregnant women are an especially vulnerable group to influenza. They are 7.2 times more likely […]
Influenza KILLS in Singapore
We have neglected influenza. Personally, there isn’t a robust influenza vaccination programme in Singapore, and many refuse to accept influenza as a life-threatening illness. This blog will show the threat of influenza, and how it kills innocent Singaporeans when we are most vulnerable! Many individuals accept influenza just as an inconvenience in life. But […]
A monkey bite- what next? Herpes B?
A Monkey Bite – What Next? Herpes B? After reading this blog post, you will probably understand why I shy away from monkeys. Look beyond their cute furry appearance and you find danger that lurks and KILLS. Monkey bites carry three types of risk 1. Common bacterial infection. This occurs with any cuts 2. Rabies […]
Influenza vaccination – new composition from October / November 2012
A new composition of the influenza vaccination was recommended in February 2012 at the six monthly WHO vaccine composition meetings. This vaccine composed of three strains of influenza viruses (2 influenza As and 1 influenza B) 1. an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; 2. an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus; 3. a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of […]
Rabies…. What to do AFTER a bite?
RABIES POST EXPOSURE TREATMENT – SIMPLE GUIDE FOR THE LAY PERSON Rabies is a real threat in developing countries. It occurs in >100 countries and 55,000 people die from rabies each year. Risk is highest in Asia and Africa. Despite the availability of the rabies vaccination, few use them. Instead, many rely on post-exposure prophylaxis […]
Resistant malaria on the rise!
Malaria is still a constant threat in our neighbouring countries. With Singaporeans going to increasingly exotic destinations – some for travel, others for work, it is pertinent that we protect ourselves adequately. In Singapore, there were 149 cases in 2011, with a median cases of 168 between the years 2006 to 2010 based on the […]