I was horrified one day when the Straits Times reported that pregnant women are in the high-risk group, and that 5 of them already died from H1N1 in the US. As if I don't already have enough things to worry about!!!

It doesn't help that being global citizens, everyone is flying everywhere, both for work and pleasure.

First, my younger sister went on trips to Melbourne, then Manila, and now she's in Thailand.

Then an ex-classmate came visiting from Manila, and I had to attend the gathering or it could be ages before we'll have a chance to meet up again.

And my brother-in-law just came back from Japan.

All countries on 'the list'!


Given a choice, I would rather err on the side of caution and see them only after they have been back for at least 7 days. But sometimes that is difficult, especially with my once-weekly dinner at my maternal home.

How do I tell someone to self-quarantine in case they spread to me? Such things have to be done in their own initiative.

And now, MOE decides not to extend the school holidays by one week. Personally, I don't have faith in all parents to be truthful and honorable in reporting their children's condition.

If I am a typical Singaporean parent and my child is having a slight fever, I would rather he pop a Panadol and go to school, instead of me having to 'waste' a day's leave to stay home and babysit.

An ex-colleague was sharing how she was reading a parents' forum and there were already parents discussing and scheming how to get their children past the screening process, even to the extent of forging their passport photocopies. Horrible!


So I am quite certain that there will be children exposed to the virus going to school next Monday. And knowing children and their bad hygiene practices, the virus is going to spread.

Hubby, being a teacher, will be exposed to a few hundred of these children, and if he catches the virus, he's ultimately going to bring it home to me.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan has advised that pregnant women wear face masks when they go out. I am now trying not to go out at all, unless really necessary. He also announced that preggies will be receiving flyers from MOH on how to protect ourselves.

Ok I am waiting trepidly, Mr Khaw... so chop! chop!!!

Labels: Cynic In The House, Homebody, Pregnancy