Six New Confirmed Cases of Influenza A (H1N1-2009)

12 Jun 2009

Singapore has confirmed six more cases of Influenza A (H1N1-2009), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 27. To date, two more patients (8th and 16th cases) have been discharged, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 15. The remaining 12 patients (15th, 17th – 27th cases) are still in the hospital and their conditions remain stable. The 22nd and 23rd Confirmed Cases 2. The 22nd case, a 6-year-old Australian male, and the 23rd case, a 7-year-old Australian female, are siblings in a family of five. They came to Singapore from Melbourne together with their family for holidays on Qantas Airways QF9 at 2115 hours on 11 June. Both were seated at row 53. The boy developed symptoms on 9 June while he was in Melbourne, while the girl developed symptoms while on the plane. As they were febrile upon arrival, both were detected by thermal scanner at the airport. They were sent to KKH via a 993 ambulance on 12 June. Laboratory results confirmed their infection at 1830 hours on 12 June. The 24th Confirmed Case 3. The 24th case is a 12-year-old Singaporean male who is studying in Melbourne. He arrived in Singapore from Melbourne via Perth on Tiger Airways TR717 at 0200 hours on 8 June. He was seated at row 8. He took a taxi home from the airport. He developed symptoms on the evening of 10 June. On 11 June afternoon, he sought medical attention at a GP clinic and a 993 ambulance was called to send him to KKH. Laboratory results confirmed his infection at 1830 hours on 12 June. The 25th Confirmed Case 4. The 25th case is a 15-year-old Singaporean male who is studying in USA. He returned to Singapore from San Francisco via Tokyo on Japan Airlines JL711 at 0030 hours on 11 June. He was seated at row 32. He took a taxi to his relative's residence from the airport. On 11 June night, he developed symptoms, and a 993 ambulance was called to send him to KKH. Laboratory results confirmed his infection at 1830 hours on 12 June. The 26th and 27th Confirmed Cases 5. The 26th case, a 39-year-old Singaporean female, and the 27th case, a 3-year-old Singaporean male, are mother and son who went to Melbourne for holidays on 3 June. They returned to Singapore on SQ228 at 2140 hours on 9 June. They were seated at row 33 and the mother developed symptoms while on the plane. She was not picked up by the thermal scanner as she did not have fever then. Their relatives fetched them home from the airport. On 11 June morning, the son developed symptoms and the mother brought him to seek medical attention at another GP clinic by taxi. They were both referred to KKH. Laboratory results confirmed their infection at 1830 hours on 12 June. Contact Tracing 6. Contact tracing has been initiated for the six new confirmed cases. Passengers seated within the following rows who have not been contacted by MOH yet should call the MOH hotline at 1800-333 9999 to enable us to check on their health condition expeditiously: o 51 to 55 on Qantas Airways QF9 at 2115 hours on 11 June o 30 to 34 on Japan Airlines JL711 at 0030 hours on 11 June o 31 to 35 on Singapore Airlines SQ228 at 2140 hours on 9 June All close contacts identified will be quarantined and provided with antiviral prophylaxis. Update on 19th – 21st Cases 7. Contact tracing for the 19th, 20th and 21st confirmed cases have all been accounted for. 8. For the 19th confirmed case involving a 21-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who returned to Singapore from Melbourne on 9 June 09, MOH has identified 38 close contacts on the flight, of whom seven had entry records into Singapore. All seven passengers comprising 5 Singaporeans and 2 foreigner have been placed under HQOs, which ends on 16 June 09. Two household contacts of the case have also been placed under HQOs. Their period of quarantine ends on 17 June 09. We have informed our IHR counterparts of 31 passengers who were out of Singapore. 9. For the 20th confirmed case involving a 17-year-old Singaporean male who returned to Singapore from Los Angeles via Hong Kong on 7 June 09, five household contacts and one social contact of the case have been served with HQOs. The five household contacts will end their quarantine on 17 June while the social contact will end quarantine on 16 June. There is no contact tracing for close contacts on the flight as the case’s onset of symptoms was more than 24 hrs after disembarkation. 10. For the 21st confirmed case involving a 21-year-old male Indonesian who returned to Singapore from Melbourne on 9 June 09, MOH has identified two close contacts on the flight of which one is a foreign passenger with entry record into Singapore. He has been placed on HQO and it will end on 17 June 09. We will inform WHO and our IHR counterparts of the other foreign passenger who is out of Singapore. Two household contacts of the case were identified and they have been placed under quarantine, which will end on 18 June 09. 11. MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will keep the public informed on any new developments. MOH wishes to remind those who have returned from overseas travel to seek prompt medical attention, when they develop flu-like symptoms. This will reduce the likelihood of their transmitting any infection to their family members, friends and the community. For more information on Influenza A (H1N1-2009), please access MOH’s website at www.moh.gov.sg, call our hotline at 1800-333 9999, or visit www.flu.gov.sg. MINISTRY OF HEALTH 12 June 09 Source : http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/pressreleases.aspx?id=22156