I read in the newspaper on Sunday that the first case of H1N1 had emerged in Yangon after a 13-year-old girl had came back to Yangon from a visit in Singapore. She is now quarantined at the hospital and said to be recovering well. They also quarantined the people who were on the same flight as she, and also her family members. None of them had said to show any symptoms yet.
Because of this news, many people in Yangon have started to wear masks. That is a good thing, in my personal opinion. But of course, wearing masks doesn't deter the H1N1 virus 100%: it is just a measure to decrease the chances of getting it.
But the thing is masks are now in high demand, and a lot of stores are now out of stock. I have heard that it costs like 500 Ks. ($0.50 USD) for EACH mask! I mean, masks are being distributed freely in other countries: when I was in Suvanabumi Airport and Hong Kong airport, I could take surgical masks at the counters free of charge. I really hate the way the people seize the opportunity and raise prices on situations like this.
When I was in Hong Kong, there were many people who had masks on. When we went to the phone shop in Mong Kok district, the sale clerks were wearing masks. But we didn't wear any masks, since we didn't get out much anyways. (We only got to go outside at night because we weren't free during the day time). We just made sure to wash our hands a lot with soap. I also made sure not to catch a cold while staying at the hotel. I turn off the air-condition when I go to sleep. (I am not very tolerant to cold anyways) I carried a light jacket wherever I go, just in case I face with the cold blasts of air-conditions. I remembered from my experiences on the plane that the air-condition can be very cold, so I wore a jacket before I get on the airplane. Even then, my legs and hands were cold. I was touching my forehead, and it felt hot, so I was quite alarmed- I was thinking, "What if the thermal sensor detected my high temparature?" Luckily, I passed by all the check-points unscathed.
When I was passing through Yangon Airport, Suvanabumi Airport and Hong Kong Airport, I didn't really noticed the thermal sensors that are supposed to be checking on our temperatures. Maybe it was hidden from my view, or because I didn't pay attention much to the surroundings. (I was busy oogling at the shops and the bookstores). But that doesn't mean they aren't there, right? I guess I just expected it to be the same way as going through the metal detector. =P
Anyways.. yes I am back in Yangon. I am not sneezing, or coughing (yet) nor do I have a high temperature. I am even afraid to get headache now. Aside from having stomach problems (it hurts a little when I sit hunching for long hours and sometimes after I eat a big meal - doctor told me that it's sore stomach? (အစာအိမ္ေရာင္) and had given some medicines to me before I went to Hong Kong: I was supposed to go back there for check-up but still haven't had the time with all these happenings in my home). I will be blogging in detail about my trip to Hong Kong soon, with photos! (Don't expect a lot of photos though cos I didn't get around very much :)
Comments (5)
I am a Hongkonger. Look forward to the photos. I'll see whether I recognize the places you have been.
@choyshinglin - cool! I'm sad to say that I didn't get to go around very much in Hong Kong.. I've only been in Kowloon side, and didn't even crossed over to the Hong Kong side. *regrets* *regrets* Maybe next time!
When I say that I am a Hongkonger I mean that I am a citizen of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is made up of Hong Kong Island (the Hong Kong side), Kowloon peninsula (Kowloon side), the New Territories and outlying islands. Actually I live in the New Territories. When I say Hong Kong I mean the whole Hong Kong, not just Hong Kong Island.
welcome back! Can't wait to see the photos and your report!
Nice to hear that you visited Hong Kong, it is an incredible city, I myself have just left there about 2 weeks ago after a few months study, and am missing it terribly. If this doesn't sound too creepy, I'd have liked to have been able to meet you because I've not met anybody from Burma before, and would have loved to have heard more of your experiences. I'm only anonymous on here because I don't have a Xanga and can't be bothered to create one because I'm not a blogger, only a reader.
Don't worry about the cost of surgical masks-World Health Organisation advice (not publicised by media, who wish to spread bad news), is that they do not stop you from catching swine flu. They can help to stop you spreading it if you are sick, but they cannot stop you contracting the disease. Plus, its death rate is very very low. Save your money and ignore the panic :)