Swine Flu in Korea

Thanks to Mary-Jane for forwarding me this image. Original source unknown.

Apparently the number of swine flu cases in South Korea has passed the 2000 mark. Apparently more than 90 people catch the H1N1 virus now per day! Korea is actually the ideal place for infectious diseases to spread rapidly. People live very close to each other. The public transportation is especially packed, with people standing shoulder to shoulder during high traffic hours. Koreans share food; i.e. they scoop food from the same bowls. Koreans tend to spit in the street and this alone is probably a major cause for such viruses to spread.

So how would you eradicate a pandemic outbreak of swine flu? If swine flu is anything like a zombie disaster one could use this mathematical model.

Here's a YouTube-video with some tips on surviving a zombie-attack.



Or get this book.

As for the swine flu, remember to wash your hands often. Never rub your eyes -- many germs enter the body through the eyes. Be careful of sharing food and eating at public places. So as the flu season starts to increase I'm considering to get a breathing mask to cover my nose and mouth when I use public transport. I'm also planning to keep more windows open during the winter. Students tend to close all the class windows during the winter to make most of the central heating and then I come into class and open the windows as I cannot stand the stuffy oxygen depleted classrooms, smelling of sweet kimchi.

Another must is to take LOTS of vitamin C. Humans are the only "animals" that do not produce their own vitamin C. Make 3 grams (3000 milligrams) your standard daily dosage. Don't take the whole dosage at once; rather spread it out throughout the day. You may experience some diarrhoea from an increase in vitamin C; however, once your body has accustomed, this will subside at which time you may consider raising your vitamin C intake to even double that. (Some people are allergic to vitamin C, so consult your doctor.) The famous Korean professor (I think his name is Kang Kyung-Sun) whom does research on the benefits of vitamin C takes 12 grams of vitamin C a day. Although this is clearly not common practise; I personally take between 1 and 6 grams a day. Apart from all the health benefits associate with extra vitamin C, it apparently makes your body a habitat that is inhospitable to viruses, which makes you less likely to catch something.

Germs also do not like alkaline bodies. Diets that are high in fats and protein are more acidic. Instead, a balanced vegetable rich diet is more alkaline and better equipped to fight the microscopic pests.

Also increase your water consumption. With enough water your body can better flush out the bad stuff. Fruit juice, herbal teas and all those other healthy alternatives are not substitutes for water. You can drink those too, but not to replace your daily water in take. How much is enough? It really depends on your body size, the amount of juicy foods (fruits) you eat, and the amount of toxins you normally consume, which would require more water for diluting and flushing out. "Toxins" refers here to refined sugary drinks such as soft drinks, tonics such as coffee, and so on. Drink about two litres of water a day. It is easier than it sounds. Start your day with two glasses of water -- there, you've already drank 500ml. Just keep a water bottle on your desk or at your workplace and drank from it throughout the day.

Don't forget regular exercise. I've heard one health practitioner say that if you have to choose between a healthy diet and regular exercise, choose the exercise. Of course, having both a healthy diet and regular exercise is the best choice. And as for eating, eat less, but more nutritious food. We tend to do the opposite -- eat more of non-nutritious food.

And lastly, the one thing I struggle the most with is to get enough sleep. Sleep is absolutely essential for your body to heal itself and keep the immune system strong. Speaking of sleeping, it is nearly 2 a.m., so I guess I need to start an attempt to go to bed.

Here is a "Swine Flu Facts Sheet" with more on the symptoms and other advice.