Yesterday heard that 3 employees of NS have been confirmed H1N1 positive upon returning from their summer break in Bali! It’s Bali,not US, UK,or Australia. This is horrible as the pandemic is getting worse and the no.of infected is escalating each day as we read the news.

The global outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) is evolving rapidly. As of Monday, July 6th 2009, Malaysia registered 434 confirmed cases while on the global scene, a total of 94,512 cases has been reported in over 126 countries!! wow!

H1N1_influenza_virus

As I am working in a manufacturing outfit, the potential losses due to this pandemic can be really big with the worst can cause the whole plant to shutdown if the containment is beyond control. Our daily export value run in million of dollars. If 7 days shutdown is enforced, total losses is unimaginable.

Looking at current critical situation, my company management has decided to provide everyone a  thermometer,the clinical test kit. see photo:

Thermometer given by the mgmt

Upon receiving this kit, i have tested on myself. And the result is 33.1 C,this is simply abnormal:

33.1 C? Am i healthy or not?

Normal human body temperature, also known as normothermia or euthermia, at 37.0 °C (98.6 °F) is the commonly accepted average core body temperature, the value of 36.8 °C ±0.7 °C, or 98.2 °F ±1.3 °F is an average oral (mouth under the tongue) measurement.

By the way, if you are taking your body temperature, do know the facts about body temperature:

The temperature reading depends on which part of the body is being measured. Measurements are commonly taken in the mouth, the ear, the anus, or the armpit. In females, the vagina can also be used. The median daytime temperature among healthy adults are as follows:

• Temperature in the anus (rectum/rectal), vagina, or in the ear (otic) is about 37.6 °C (99.6 °F)
• Temperature in the mouth (oral) is about 36.8 °C (98.2 °F)
• Temperature under the arm (axillary) is about 36.4 °C (97.6 °F)

Normal human body temperature varies slightly from person to person and by the time of day. Consequently, each type of measurement has a range of normal temperatures. The range for normal human body temperatures, taken orally, is 36.8±0.7 °C (98.2±1.3 °F). This means that any oral temperature between 36.1 and 37.5 °C (96.9 and 99.5 °F) is likely to be normal.

Problems of various measurements

It is claimed that changes in core body temperature are reflected sooner and more accurately in the ear than at other sites.

Influencing factors on other areas where temperatures are taken:

• Oral temperatures are influenced by drinking, eating and breathing.
• Rectal temperatures lag behind changes in core body temperature and there is a risk of cross-contamination.
• Skin temperatures, measured under the arm or at the forehead, are not always reliable indicators of core body temperature, especially during those critical times when core body temperature is increasing or decreasing. This is because the skin is a tool the body uses to control core body temperature. For example, when fever is increasing people are likely to react by shivering and drawing in heat from the increased core body temperature. Skin temperatures are further influenced by factors such as fever-lowering medication, clothing and external temperature.

Guys, you should check out yourself too as a responsible colleague,family member or rakyat when you sense something wrong about yourself. If the children can behave themselves (referring to the recent infected schools),why can’t you?

If you know that you are just back from overseas, please check your body temperature before you report to work. The same applies when you come in contact with any suspicious person too.