I am still down with flu since yesterday and today I had to come to work due to datelines. The sudden realization that there is a minor outbreak of flu comes when I can hear at least 2 person sniffing a running nose on board a crowded train (MRT).

Almost everyone near me are either having flu or coughing in the train, I had managed stop my running nose as my flu subsided slightly but nevertheless I was infectious with blocked nose.

Everyone including me was not wearing a mask to prevent any sort of airborne infections to other passengers on the train. It comes as no surprise to me as Singapore are not used to wearing mask in public as it may look “weird”.

My suggestion now is for the safety of the people who are concern with the recent minor outbreak of influenza in public due to weather changes is to wear mask when you are NOT sick yet.

It’s not a crime wearing mask but everyone have a duty to play to wear mask in public either from spreading the influenza or risk catching it.

The current strain of influenza might be slightly more powerful then the previous ones and may kill weak elderly or younger kids that might not be strong enough to fight the virus.

Channelnewsasia ran an article about the influenza recently that the doctors blamed the weather.

According to doctors TODAY spoke to, weather shifts especially when temperatures plummet can trigger a condition called non-allergic rhinitis (or sinus in layman-speak). Rhinitis occurs when the mucous lining of the nose becomes inflamed.

Said general practitioner Dr Lily Aw, who runs a private clinic in Pasir Ris: “Changes in temperature and humidity cause the blood vessels in the nose to dilate, resulting in nasal congestion and excessive mucous production.”

Symptoms tend to show up “relatively quickly” in response to the weather changes. So, once the nasal membranes are stimulated, sinus sufferers tend to experience sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, as well as phlegm.

According to Channelnewsasia, Raffles II to prepare financial sector for flu pandemic.

The Ministry of Health has estimated that in the worst case scenario, a flu attack can affect up to 40 per cent of the people in the financial sector.

Ong-Ang Ai Boon, director of the Association of Banks in Singapore, said: “A flu pandemic is many times worse than SARS.

It’s more contagious and absenteeism could be a challenge, and mortality rate is another issue.” An exercise, codenamed Raffles II, will be held over two weeks starting August 28.

It will allow financial institutions to practice their response to a flu pandemic. Estimates show that up to 40 per cent of banking staff could be absent from work during a flu outbreak, either being sick or staying home to tend to loved ones.

And this shortage of manpower could affect core banking services.

- This may be terrible not only for the health of the people but may affect the economy as well.

According to the latest news at Yahoo!News that the local Singapore Health Promotion Board is going to launch an yearly flu vaccination for the elderly and younger folks in Singapore.

The campaign is targeted at parents of young children — particularly those aged 6 months to 5 years old — and those with elderly parents, aged 65 years and above.

These two groups are at higher risk of developing health complications such as pneumonia, due to flu.According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Singapore General Hospital, an average of 588 deaths in Singapore is attributed to influenza each year.

- These preventive measures may not be sufficient if everyone ignored the risk of spreading the flu virus on crowded trains or buses. If the strain is stronger due to rampant misuse of antibiotics then the end result will be a serious case of pandemic.

This is a fight for survival and economic growth for not just Singapore but for the rest of the world too. It’s time for everyone to be responsible to prevent the flu from spreading by wearing a mask in public to prevent the spreading of this influenza.