Currently there’s a fiesta in the town I live in. It’s a three days fiesta and today’s the last day. The fiesta is called Pesta Gata (an abbreviation of Gasing / Tamu Besar). This fiesta is held every two years in the sleepy town of Sipitang. It is a truly big event for the locals here. Most locals can’t afford going to KK for some leisure and entertainment activities so whenever Gata comes the whole town is buzzing with excitement. Everybody dresses their best and wouldn’t be left out of anything relating to the fiesta.

On the contrary, I have not the slightest interest in going to the festival due to the spreading of H1N1 virus locally. Last Tuesday the principal at my school announced that a student from our school had tested positive for the virus. The number increase to three students in the following days. Mr. A’s school was also inflicted. Four students of his school were positive of the virus. However, these four students were affected by the virus when they were in Melaka (some two weeks ago) for a national event and haven’t been allowed to attend school.

In my opinion the state should’ve have cancelled the fiesta. I think the risk of the H1N1 spreading wildly easily increases with all the close proximity. I heard rumors that the local Health Department had advised against the fiesta but were brushed off because Gata is one of the main events in the Sabah Tourism Calendar.

You would wonder why my school hasn’t closed down yet. I think there’s a politic to it. I mean why go on with the fiesta if a local school has been closed down because of the virus right? I am afraid for the week to come. Pray for us.

PS: Mr. A had to go there today because he somehow in charge of one of the events. Luckily he was provided with a mask and he wore it all the way through.

PSS: H1N1 has been declared as a Phase 5 of WHO pandemic alert. The pandemic alert has only six phases.