Chikungunya fever is a viral illness that is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. Chikungunya fever typically lasts from five to seven days and frequently causes severe and often incapacitating joint pain which sometimes persists for much longer periods. It is rarely life-threatening. There is no specific treatment for the disease but analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication may be used to reduce the pain and swelling. Aspirin should be avoided.
There is no vaccine against this virus, so preventive measures depend entirely on avoiding mosquito bites which occur mainly during the daytime, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
To avoid mosquito bites:
wear clothes that cover as much skin as possible;
use mosquito repellents on exposed skin and on clothing in accordance with label instructions;
use mosquito nets to protect babies, older and sick people and others who rest during the day. The effectiveness of mosquito nets can be improved by treating them with WHO-recommended insecticides.
use mosquito coils and insecticide vaporizers during the daytime.
The Aedes mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya virus breed in a wide variety of rain-filled containers which are common around human dwellings and workplaces, such as water storage containers, saucers under potted plants and drinking bowls for domestic animals, as well as discarded tyres and food containers.
To reduce mosquito breeding:
remove discarded containers from around the house;
for containers that are in use, turn them over or empty every 3–4 days to prevent mosquito breeding including any water-filled containers indoors. Alternatively, completely cover them to keep out mosquitoes
(*This articles was taken from World Health Organization (WHO) Official Website)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
10 great goals to set for this Ramadan…
1. Eat, drink and be moderate
Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it’s hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we’re supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let’s try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a ringgit a day in charity…or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let’s open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a ringgit a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it’s the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you’ve started, you’ll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan’s blessings. Don’t miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran’s recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box
It’s hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone’s upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn’t the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we’ve got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment. At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you’ve backbitten the most against.
7. Call/ email your relatives
You’d think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we’d keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life’s “busyness.” Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8. Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day…just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you’ve got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it’s also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah’s forgiveness, shouldn’t we lesser beings forgive too?
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.
Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it’s hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we’re supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let’s try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a ringgit a day in charity…or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let’s open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a ringgit a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it’s the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you’ve started, you’ll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan’s blessings. Don’t miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran’s recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box
It’s hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone’s upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn’t the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we’ve got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment. At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you’ve backbitten the most against.
7. Call/ email your relatives
You’d think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we’d keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life’s “busyness.” Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8. Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day…just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you’ve got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it’s also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah’s forgiveness, shouldn’t we lesser beings forgive too?
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.
Ramadan blessings…
The gracious month of Ramadan has started and it’s almost 2 weeks now. Alhamdulillah everything going smoothly without any problem from dawn until dusk. I’m so grateful to Allah for being able to spend a week with my family during the early of Ramadan. For me nothing can compare the feeling of fasting (sawm) with your love ones especially with your family…the feeling is unexplainable. I felt so blessed. But now I’m back in Taiping, Perak where I’m doing my practical and I just hate be in Taiping during Ramadan. I’m tired of going alone to hotel everyday for iftar (fast-breaking)…makes me feel bored and lonely. I just want to be with my family during Ramadan but what can I do, I have to be here. There are no excuses for me of not being here. Maybe with this kind of condition will teach me to be more independent and more matured and also enable me to learn the true spirit of Ramadan ….hopefully. Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslims in the world have a blessed Ramadan and may you all find strength and guidance in your prayers and let us strengthen our faith during this gracious month of Ramadan…
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friendship vs. Woman…
Once again the question is WHY? Why, why and why men have to fight each other just because of God’s creation called WOMAN? Why? Until this moment I still don’t get it…still don’t have the answer. Just imagine a person who we used to call friend turn to be our enemy just because a woman….doesn’t friendship means anything to him? Or maybe for him a woman is far more important than a friendship. I know even the best maintained friendships can end but why it has to end just because of a woman? For me it’s totally utterly absurd for a man to sacrifice his friendship for a woman. Oh God….please give me strength to face all this situations and please dear God help him to realize that friendship is far more valuable and important compare to a woman who he met just for a few days…I hope that this conflict can be resolved for this friendship to continue…
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
AMOR? ¿Es real? ¿Estoy enamorado?
(English translation at end of write-up)
Estoy empezando a creer en lo que la gente llama amor… para mí el amor es algo que es inexplicable e inesperado. El amor llega sin previo aviso y que hace a las personas ido locos. Para que el amor es tener una profunda, tierna, inefable sentimiento de afecto y solicitud hacia una persona o para tener una sensación de intenso deseo y la atracción hacia una persona. Pero ¿cómo saber si lo que sientes dentro de ti es amor verdadero o simplemente el amor como la amistad el amor? ¿Estoy enamorado? Sólo Dios sabe… lucha por el amor y lo tendrá al instante…
I’m starting to believe in what people called love…for me love is something that is unexpected and unexplainable. Love comes without warning and it makes people gone crazy. To have love is to have a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person or to have a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person. But how will you know if what you feel inside you is real love or just love as friendship love? Am I in love? Only God knows…fight for it and you will get it…
Sunday, August 3, 2008
WhY? wHY? & WHY??
Why some of us don’t even bother about other people’s feeling rather than their own satisfactions and let others suffer to death just to get what they want?? Why in earth they are so selfish? Why, why and why?? Maybe I’m being too nice to them and maybe that’s why they like to treat me anyway they want. Or maybe I’m being too paranoid? Only God knows….what goes around comes back around. Just have faith in God and everything will be fine…
“With stolen wings we cannot fly…Without empathy we shall fall… So ignorantly arrogant. Is this the true nature of HUMANITY? It is simlpy so very SELFISH…”
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friend or ‘Friend’ (?-?) Im confused!!…..
In the year 2008….it is hard for me to tell or to recognize between a true friend and ‘friend’. Every day in my life I try to find the true meaning of friend…a friend who can welcome each other’s company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism and also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. I have lot of friends but most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends and that hurt me a lot. Sometimes I wonder do true friends really exist in the modern world. Do they? I’m not sure about that…Only time can tell…but whatever it is I hope one day I will find someone who I can really call FRIEND….TRUE FRIENDS.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed”
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