I know this photo is yucky enough to make you lose your appetite. This is swine flu beaming under the lens.

H1N1, known as the swine flu virus, first appeared in Mexico then in the United States just last March 2009. The pandemic caused panic in Mexico as more people were diagnosed with flu-like symptoms while others died. The United States declared a public health emergency. And lately, Manila is catching up with the trend.

Although I still have faith in Pinoy’s resilience to poverty, pollution and all types of germs, swine flu is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly in the absence of a sound public health program. So here are some ways to prevent the virus from possessing you:

1. Wash your hands at all times with soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread through them.

3. Cover your nose when you sneeze and your mouth when you cough. Throw your tissue after use.

4. Avoid crowded places as much as you can. If you’re a cinema fanatic like me, better look for those exit signs, go home and watch DVD instead in your comfy sofa. But I won’t prevent you from trooping down the theaters when Transformers 2 debuts on silverscreen this month.

5. Eat healthy. Avoid stress. Take vitamins.