Mexico closes all schools as swine flu kills 60; disease has spread to US: WHO

MEXICO CITY — A rare outbreak of human swine flu has killed 60 people in Mexico and has spread to the United States where authorities are on alert, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.

Mexican authorities on Friday closed all schools in the capital and central Mexico. According to the UN health agency, swine flu regularly hits pigs but rarely humans.

"To date there have been some 800 suspected cases with flu-like illness, with 57 deaths in the Mexico City area," said Ms Fadela Chaib, a spokeswoman for the UN health agency. Three deaths were recorded in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico.

In a televised statement, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova urged people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing as a greeting, or using the subway.

Most of the Mexican cases were found in healthy young adults with no known record of prior illness. The Mexican government has gathered 600,000 vaccines to help protect health care workers.

Warning that swine influenza — which combines pig, bird and human viruses — could potentially cause a human flu pandemic, the WHO said there are at least seven cases in the United States, in three clusters - five in California and two in Texas.

All the US victims have recovered, but the cases are a medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus.

None of the seven were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu and only a few were in contact with each other, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses in pigs, because pigs are particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu. Agencies

From TODAY, World – Weekend, 25/56-April-2009

Mexico closes all schools as swine flu kills 60; disease has spread to US: WHO

MEXICO CITY — A rare outbreak of human swine flu has killed 60 people in Mexico and has spread to the United States where authorities are on alert, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.

Mexican authorities on Friday closed all schools in the capital and central Mexico. According to the UN health agency, swine flu regularly hits pigs but rarely humans.

"To date there have been some 800 suspected cases with flu-like illness, with 57 deaths in the Mexico City area," said Ms Fadela Chaib, a spokeswoman for the UN health agency. Three deaths were recorded in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico.

In a televised statement, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova urged people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing as a greeting, or using the subway.

Most of the Mexican cases were found in healthy young adults with no known record of prior illness. The Mexican government has gathered 600,000 vaccines to help protect health care workers.

Warning that swine influenza — which combines pig, bird and human viruses — could potentially cause a human flu pandemic, the WHO said there are at least seven cases in the United States, in three clusters - five in California and two in Texas.

All the US victims have recovered, but the cases are a medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus.

None of the seven were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu and only a few were in contact with each other, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses in pigs, because pigs are particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu. Agencies

From TODAY, World – Weekend, 25/56-April-2009

Quote in-between…

Singapore Kindness Movement, www.kindness.sg, presents this quote:

 

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” – Seneca

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There is kindness in all of us; let us make it our baseline attitude to be kind and courteous.

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From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 23-April-2009

Quote in-between…

Singapore Kindness Movement, www.kindness.sg, presents this quote:

 

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” – Seneca

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There is kindness in all of us; let us make it our baseline attitude to be kind and courteous.

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From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 23-April-2009

Nothing wrong with Victorians

Letter from Zaveed Husref

I REFER to “What’s wrong with today’s kids?” (April 20) from Ms Trina Tan Ker Wei.

I am truly proud of my Victorian experience, having been fortunate enough to attend Victoria School and Victoria Junior College.

I am upset at Ms Tan’s narrow-mindedness. She insulted generations of Victorians by implying Victoria School has failed “in upholding its school mission of producing well-mannered, considerate men with good social graces” through judging the actions of a handful of Victorians.

Allow me first, to correct her understanding of Victoria’s mission — “A Victorian is ultimately a Gentleman, a Professional and a Sportsman who makes tangible contributions to his family, work, community and nation”. The inability of the students to clear their trays of food at McDonald’s is not indicative of Victoria School’s failure.

Perhaps at most it does show a lack of consideration to the crew members who had to clean up after them, but might I remind Ms Tan, however, that clearing trays are part of crew members’ jobscope. Considering the ever increasing prices of fast-food outlets that rival those of restaurants, how different is leaving a tray for a crew member to clear from that of a waiter clearing your plates at a restaurant? Furthermore, how many Singaporeans actually do clear up after they are done with their meals? Not many, I assure you.

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From Meng Chye
I would like to tell all Victorians out there that we should welcome such criticisms. As our school song goes, “For others came, before and went, and carried to the world, Victoria’s name, and our intent, to keep her flag unfurled.”

From Joo Peng
Boys will be boys.

From Samuel
The fact, sadly and truly, is that hardly anyone clears up after themselves, and you know it.

www.todayonline.com/voices
Read more letters and comments about the issue
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Clearing one’s own trays is an individual choice, usually done only when it is convenient to do so, and enforcing this act and blaming the teacher seems almost an Orwellian ideal to me. I do believe these boys were engrossed in their conversations, and when it was time to leave, absent-mindedly cleared some of their food and then left as a group. This momentary lapse of consideration does not make them failures.

Rather, it shows that despite their ability to win medals around the world while consistently coming in tops in the school rankings year after year, that Victorians are nonetheless human, and should be allowed the occasional lack of perfection without being subjected to such harsh judgement.

The writer is an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore.

From TODAY, Voices – Wednesday, 22-April-2009

Nothing wrong with Victorians

Letter from Zaveed Husref

I REFER to “What’s wrong with today’s kids?” (April 20) from Ms Trina Tan Ker Wei.

I am truly proud of my Victorian experience, having been fortunate enough to attend Victoria School and Victoria Junior College.

I am upset at Ms Tan’s narrow-mindedness. She insulted generations of Victorians by implying Victoria School has failed “in upholding its school mission of producing well-mannered, considerate men with good social graces” through judging the actions of a handful of Victorians.

Allow me first, to correct her understanding of Victoria’s mission — “A Victorian is ultimately a Gentleman, a Professional and a Sportsman who makes tangible contributions to his family, work, community and nation”. The inability of the students to clear their trays of food at McDonald’s is not indicative of Victoria School’s failure.

Perhaps at most it does show a lack of consideration to the crew members who had to clean up after them, but might I remind Ms Tan, however, that clearing trays are part of crew members’ jobscope. Considering the ever increasing prices of fast-food outlets that rival those of restaurants, how different is leaving a tray for a crew member to clear from that of a waiter clearing your plates at a restaurant? Furthermore, how many Singaporeans actually do clear up after they are done with their meals? Not many, I assure you.

------
From Meng Chye
I would like to tell all Victorians out there that we should welcome such criticisms. As our school song goes, “For others came, before and went, and carried to the world, Victoria’s name, and our intent, to keep her flag unfurled.”

From Joo Peng
Boys will be boys.

From Samuel
The fact, sadly and truly, is that hardly anyone clears up after themselves, and you know it.

www.todayonline.com/voices
Read more letters and comments about the issue
-----

Clearing one’s own trays is an individual choice, usually done only when it is convenient to do so, and enforcing this act and blaming the teacher seems almost an Orwellian ideal to me. I do believe these boys were engrossed in their conversations, and when it was time to leave, absent-mindedly cleared some of their food and then left as a group. This momentary lapse of consideration does not make them failures.

Rather, it shows that despite their ability to win medals around the world while consistently coming in tops in the school rankings year after year, that Victorians are nonetheless human, and should be allowed the occasional lack of perfection without being subjected to such harsh judgement.

The writer is an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore.

From TODAY, Voices – Wednesday, 22-April-2009

What’s wrong with today’s kids?

STATE OF OUR STUDENTS

Teacher in top boys’ school set poor example

Letter from Trina Tan Ker Wei

I WAS at the McDonald’s outlet in Marine Cove on April 14, from about 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

During that time, a group of between 10 and 20 secondary school boys in Victoria School (VS) uniform entered together with a lady who I assumed was their teacher, and occupied a long table and some “bar” seats.

From their loud cheers, I gathered the teacher was giving them a treat. The calls to confirm orders and the general rowdy chatter were a little disruptive but I was okay with it.

What got to me, though, was how the VS boys did not clear their trays when they got up to leave. Some placed their empty drink cups and wrappers on the trays, but no one bothered to empty the filled trays.

The trash bin was next to the tables they were occupying — at most three steps away. The appalling thing was seeing how the teacher did not bother to ask the boys to clear their trays — she just stood there talking to the boys.

Then they all left. The area they had occupied looked as if a tornado had swept through it. There were used napkins, burger wrappers and empty drink cups left here and there.

I sympathised with the McDonald’s crew member who came to clear the mess with a look of helpless despair on his face.

I am saddened by the behaviour of the VS boys and the inability of their teacher to use that moment to teach her students manners. Victoria School appears to have failed in upholding its school mission of producing well-mannered, considerate men with good social graces.

My mother, a proud former VS girl, was surprised at the incident and felt the boys were tarnishing the school’s name.

If the younger generation cannot master basic manners, I do not care if they are winning academic awards around the world — as far as I am concerned, they are failures.

From TODAY, Voices – 20-April-2009

What’s wrong with today’s kids?

STATE OF OUR STUDENTS

Teacher in top boys’ school set poor example

Letter from Trina Tan Ker Wei

I WAS at the McDonald’s outlet in Marine Cove on April 14, from about 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

During that time, a group of between 10 and 20 secondary school boys in Victoria School (VS) uniform entered together with a lady who I assumed was their teacher, and occupied a long table and some “bar” seats.

From their loud cheers, I gathered the teacher was giving them a treat. The calls to confirm orders and the general rowdy chatter were a little disruptive but I was okay with it.

What got to me, though, was how the VS boys did not clear their trays when they got up to leave. Some placed their empty drink cups and wrappers on the trays, but no one bothered to empty the filled trays.

The trash bin was next to the tables they were occupying — at most three steps away. The appalling thing was seeing how the teacher did not bother to ask the boys to clear their trays — she just stood there talking to the boys.

Then they all left. The area they had occupied looked as if a tornado had swept through it. There were used napkins, burger wrappers and empty drink cups left here and there.

I sympathised with the McDonald’s crew member who came to clear the mess with a look of helpless despair on his face.

I am saddened by the behaviour of the VS boys and the inability of their teacher to use that moment to teach her students manners. Victoria School appears to have failed in upholding its school mission of producing well-mannered, considerate men with good social graces.

My mother, a proud former VS girl, was surprised at the incident and felt the boys were tarnishing the school’s name.

If the younger generation cannot master basic manners, I do not care if they are winning academic awards around the world — as far as I am concerned, they are failures.

From TODAY, Voices – 20-April-2009

Extraordinary hearts and stories

Kids, kindness and courtesy, these virtues will far exceed and outlast riches and popularity. Grip them, and never let them go; they will bring you far in your life's journey...

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Letter from Angeline Koh



I would like to express my appreciation for the Today team who put together “Happiness is ... lending a helping hand” (April 6).

All it takes is an ordinary person with an extraordinary heart to do what those people did. It also takes extraordinary eyes and hearts to find such stories. Thanks!


From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 09-April-2009

Extraordinary hearts and stories

Kids, kindness and courtesy, these virtues will far exceed and outlast riches and popularity. Grip them, and never let them go; they will bring you far in your life's journey...

-----

Letter from Angeline Koh



I would like to express my appreciation for the Today team who put together “Happiness is ... lending a helping hand” (April 6).

All it takes is an ordinary person with an extraordinary heart to do what those people did. It also takes extraordinary eyes and hearts to find such stories. Thanks!


From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 09-April-2009

Why I really love Singapore

Kids, this should make you proud of your country...

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An International student says…

Letter from Dayal Prabhhal

I am a 16-year-old in Grade 10 at an international school in Singapore and have been here for two years. I want to say that I really love Singapore. This is what happened to me on March 26.

I was heading towards my friend’s house in a taxi, as her father was driving us to school. I did not realise until I had got out of the taxi that I had left my handphone behind.

Using my friend’s phone, I called my number. On my second try, a lady answered. She gave me an address in Pasir Ris from where I could collect my phone. I got into a taxi but when I got there, I could not find her.

I tried looking for someone who could lend me their phone so I could call her. Two ladies pointed me to a public phone. When I called the lady, she gave me the address again. I had misheard her the first time.

But I had no idea where she actually was. By this time I had hardly any money left to take another taxi but I still flagged a cab.

I asked the driver the way and told him my problem. He asked me to get in and dropped me at the correct block and did not even ask me for the fare.

I found the lady who had my handphone. She had been waiting for more than 30 minutes.

In the train, finally heading to school, I called my friend and told her what had happened. I told her that I didn’t have any money left as I had spent what I had on the first taxi ride to Pasir Ris.

Right after I hung up, I saw a hand with a $10 note in it. It belonged to a middle-aged man who then tucked the money into my shirt pocket. He must have heard me talking to my friend. I was so touched by this that I was almost in tears. I kept trying to give the money back but he refused to take it.

I want to say thank you to the lady who returned my handphone, the taxi uncle and the uncle in the train. It’s been two years since I came to Singapore. After this amazing experience, I want to say I really love Singapore.


From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 09-April-2009

Why I really love Singapore

Kids, this should make you proud of your country...

-----

An International student says…

Letter from Dayal Prabhhal

I am a 16-year-old in Grade 10 at an international school in Singapore and have been here for two years. I want to say that I really love Singapore. This is what happened to me on March 26.

I was heading towards my friend’s house in a taxi, as her father was driving us to school. I did not realise until I had got out of the taxi that I had left my handphone behind.

Using my friend’s phone, I called my number. On my second try, a lady answered. She gave me an address in Pasir Ris from where I could collect my phone. I got into a taxi but when I got there, I could not find her.

I tried looking for someone who could lend me their phone so I could call her. Two ladies pointed me to a public phone. When I called the lady, she gave me the address again. I had misheard her the first time.

But I had no idea where she actually was. By this time I had hardly any money left to take another taxi but I still flagged a cab.

I asked the driver the way and told him my problem. He asked me to get in and dropped me at the correct block and did not even ask me for the fare.

I found the lady who had my handphone. She had been waiting for more than 30 minutes.

In the train, finally heading to school, I called my friend and told her what had happened. I told her that I didn’t have any money left as I had spent what I had on the first taxi ride to Pasir Ris.

Right after I hung up, I saw a hand with a $10 note in it. It belonged to a middle-aged man who then tucked the money into my shirt pocket. He must have heard me talking to my friend. I was so touched by this that I was almost in tears. I kept trying to give the money back but he refused to take it.

I want to say thank you to the lady who returned my handphone, the taxi uncle and the uncle in the train. It’s been two years since I came to Singapore. After this amazing experience, I want to say I really love Singapore.


From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 09-April-2009