The Unstoppable Flu

I'm a little skeptical about the use of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test (RIDT) for detecting novel influenza A (H1N1), despite it being strongly advocated by the Health Ministry, probably as one of their desperate measures to contain the unstoppable pandemic, apart from liberalising the use of antivirals which hopefully does not get out of hand.



The above table (click to enlarge), sourced from CDC Atlanta, USA showed the latest finding that among the three commercially available RIDT kit, the overall sensitivity was low (40%--69%) among all specimens tested and declined substantially as virus levels decreased. Only QuickVue did quite well with detection rate of 69%, compared to using the more accurate rRT-PCR which is only available in certain labs in this country, notably Institute of Medical Research (IMR) but then they only run them on very ill patients who are admitted for complications of influenza.
According to CDC, a negative RIDT result should NOT be interpreted as indicating the absence of infection, especially since the sensitivity declines as the viral levels decreases.
More updates to come.

Reference source: CDC Atlanta via Malaysian Medical Resources

Contemplation

International model: Audrey Lai from San Francisco, USA
Photographer credit: Delmott Patrice from France - used with permission

My first painting on traditional Chinese costume.
100% painted - no paintover

Influenza-like illness: some important guidelines on self-assessing

Here are some important guidelines taken from a slide presentation by Dr Christopher Lee (no relation to Count Dracula!), a leading infectious disease specialist. It is important to know that this Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic will linger on for another 1 to 2 years with a global mortality rate of 0.4-0.6% (current statistic) in the most optimistic scenario.

The first slide Home Assessment Tool(HAT) is for you to observe, while the second slide Clinical Assessment Tool(CAT)is more for clinicians' reference of moderate to severe influenza-like illness (ILI).
The complete and comprehensive slideshow presentation can be viewed online

If possible please counter check with this excellent slideshow or have a consultation with a clinician as I feel there has been enuf misinformation regarding the role of primary care doctors in helping to prevent the spread of H1N1 in the mainstream newspapers.

Thank you for reading this.
I shall update whenever possible.
Images sourced from Malaysian Medical Resources

Elven Enchantress

Model photo ref: Anna Grigorieva from Ukraine
Used with her permission.

Apple

Model reference: Calista Liew from Kota Kinabalu
Used with permission
©2009 hiddenstream.blogspot.com

Outline traced. 100% painted from blank digital canvas.
Painted using Wacom Intuos 4

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Up where we belong

Childhood fantasy stuff
100% digital painting from blank canvas.
FULL VIEW much appreciated

Inspired by the song of the same title

Natural Bridge

I used the background from my previous work found here
Painted some waterfalls and played with lighting and shadows for an environmental study to achieve depth and distance.
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