THE FLU

This South Korean disaster movie stars Jang Hyuk as a rescue worker Jigu, Soo Ae as a doctor and single mum Kim In-hae, Park Min-ha as Mirre and Cha In-pyo as the President. I had high expectations of this movie but it didn't move me at all.

I had actually hoped that the movie would elicit feelings of suspense and fear much like "World War Z" but I felt none of these. The pace was just alright and I almost fell asleep midway in the midst of chaos and pandemonium on screen.

Jang Hyuk was funny and cute as always with many of his earlier movies but that can only carry a movie so far. If there was one scene that almost had me shed a tear or two, it would have to be the one where the young Mirre, the daughter of In-hae, threw herself with arms and legs outstretched in front of a firing squad and wailed for them not to shoot at her mum. Nothing else came close. For a young girl of her age, I felt her acting was great and convincing.

I thought the movie had potential to be good and I can't really tell what was wrong except that it really didn't connect with me at all. The movie's message read "try to remain calm" and the problem was I was too calm all throughout the movie. What a great disappointment!

Jang Hyuk as Jigu

Soo Ae as Kim In-hae

Park Min-ha as Mirre

TODAY (18 SEP 13) PAGE 23 - DRUG-RESISTANT 'SUPERBUGS' DEEMED URGENT THREATS

Overprescribing of Antibiotics Chief Cause of Resistance - at least 2 million people in the US develop serious bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics each year

Written by Dr Thomas Frieden, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this message was clearly stated in the headings of this article which I read. The CDC was extremely concerned over the alarming increase in pathogenic resistance against existing antibiotics and urgent public health threats were recently issued. According to them, at least 23,000 people died from the infections annually and yet new drugs are not being produced as fast as the development of antibiotic resistance.

The prevalent over-prescription of antibiotics in health care is accountable for the increase in antibiotic resistance by allowing these superbugs the chance to develop immunity against the drugs used to treat them. Antibiotic resistant Gonorrhoea, a diarrhoea causing bacteria and another killer bacteria are just some of the pathogens developing resistance.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), a family of germs that are difficult to treat, was called a nightmare bacteria because none of the strongest antibiotics are effective in controlling it. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and a resistant tuberculosis are apparently of immediate concern too.

The question now is how such infectious diseases can be effectively kept under control before it becomes a public health crisis that affects a world wide population? In the local medical arena, is anyone spearheading any control measures, I wonder?

Meanwhile, I will be going to watch the Korean movie "The Flu" on the outbreak of a fatal disease sometime soon to get some insights on what and how one can do to save oneself, their love ones or should one just throw themselves over the building when all is lost.