Kitty's Corner

Scenario number one:

My dad goes to the hospital for a semi-annual health check. He waits in the waiting room like he is supposed to, and after half an hour the nurse calls his name. He gets up, approaches her, and sticks his hand out to say hello. The nurse takes one big step away and says: "We don't shake hands with the patients. Flu risk, you know..."
After additional 10 minutes, the doctor comes in, shakes hands with my dad, and says: "Hello, I'm your doctor!", and my dad replies: "Oh, but I thought you guys didn't shake hands with the patients?"
The doc rolls his eyes, lowers his voice, and says to my dad: "Nurses...!"


Scenario number two:

I'm heading for the ladies room at work. I see another woman heading for the restrooms too, but since we have more than one, I just continue walking. Then I see her open her bag and pick up a paper towel. She wraps it around the door handle, and opens the door to the ladies room without touching the handle itself.
I stop and stare. She is going to the toilet, and she doesn't want to touch the door handle on her way in. I would perhaps have understood it better if it had been on her way out - I mean, after all you never know if other people wash their hands after having been out there...



So what I experience here is that some people get hysterical about this influenza A. And sure, it's not nice to be ill. I'd rather not be either, but common sense will help a lot.

Our national board of health says that the population here in general has no need to be worried. Most people who become infected with Influenza H1N1 will only experience mild symptoms that will be over in a few days. So why is it that some people suffer from hysteria? It's a flu, not the plague!

And it's easy to minimize the risk of catching the flu:

• wash your hands frequently with soap and water
  
  
• Cough or sneeze in your sleeve instead of in your hand
  
  
• Stay at home if you are ill!
  

Now go and have yourself a good weekend!