Pear crisp
Place pears in the bottom of an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20cm) pan or casserole.
Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and rolled oats. Melt margarine or butter in microwave for 20 seconds. Combine melted margarine or butter with dry ingredients. Sprinkle topping evenly over pears. Bake in preheated 400 F ( 200 C) oven for 30 minutes or in microwave for 10 minutes, or until pears are tender and topping is crisp.
Makes four to five servings.
Source: www.usapears.org.
Some people say that all the hype and scare tactics are due to big pharmaceutical companies trying to promote their antiviral drugs. Also, more people die of the “regular” type of flu every year and only a few people have died as a result of this flu. What is your opinion?
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There is no need to worry about the regular seasonal flu so far because nearly all the flu cases at present are the H1N1 type. At the time of writing this column, in the Northwest Territories the flu is becoming as prevalent as the common cold.
While it is true that more people can die from the regular seasonal flu, the population that is targeted is quite different. Many of the deaths in the former category were in the elderly and those with poor or compromised immune systems and chronic illness. In many cases, these patients were dying from their underlying diseases.
The H1N1 flu strain is targeting children and previously healthy young adults and pregnant women. Of the number requiring hospital admission, a third will end up on respirators in intensive care, and even if they live, they could suffer permanent lung damage. This virus can make the lungs fill up with fluid in two days.
Even if you do not end up in hospital, it is a nasty bug. Although the Canadian government has said it is “generally mild,” the World Health Organization has classified it as a moderate illness. You will have a fever that lasts for about four days and you will be flat on your back in bed. You will also be infectious so should stay home from school or work for at least 12 days. That might be a full week after your fever has gone and you feel better.
Intensive care units are already working at almost full capacity, so there is little room for all those extra flu patients. Hopefully, we do not run out of respirators. Some scheduled surgeries may have to be postponed until the epidemic passes. Try not to have a serious heart attack in the next few months.
Consider others
Even if you do not like the idea of the flu vaccination for yourself and your children, it is antisocial and selfish not to have it because you risk spreading the illness to someone who may end up in hospital or die. This applies particularly to nurses, doctors and other health care workers. Teachers should definitely be among the first in line because schools are being hit the hardest.
I am going to get the shot as soon as it is available. No, I am not in league with any of the big pharmaceutical companies No, I am not trying to lobby for more health care dollars. There is just far too much complacency about the H1N1 flu, which if not taken seriously could have a major effect on our society due to work and school days lost. Up to a third of the population could become ill if people do not get the vaccination.
