Two more cases reported in Singapore, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 49.
June 16, 2009
H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC
Two more cases reported in Singapore
THE Ministry of Health late on Tuesday confirmed two more cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in Singapore, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 49.
Of the 49 infections reported, 48 are imported cases with a travel history. One patient was a close contact of a confirmed case.
So far, 22 patients have been discharged. The remaining 27 patients (Cases 21 - 28, 30 - 32, and 34 - 49) are still in the hospital and their conditions remain stable.
Unlike the earlier imported cases, a number of the recent imported cases have engaged in extensive community activities such as working, shopping and participating in mass activities since their arrival here. Some have even travelled to Singapore even though they were already unwell prior to departure.
Said MOH: 'Such behaviour has considerably increased the difficulty of contact tracing and significantly heightened the risk of community spread here in Singapore.'
The 48th case reported on Tuesday is a 56-year-old German man who works in Singapore as a researcher at Biopolis. He went to Philadelphia, USA on May 28 to attend a conference. He developed symptoms on June 4 while he was there.
He returned to Singapore on SQ15 via Seoul at 1am on June 8. He was seated at row 52.
He was not picked up by the thermal scanner at the airport as he did not have a fever then. He took a taxi home from the airport, and stayed at home for the rest of the day. He went to work from June 9 - 12.
On the evening of June 11, he went to a function at the French Ambassador's Residence attended by about 70 persons. On June 13, he went to a shopping mall and had social activities at Clarke Quay. The next day, he attended a concert and did more shopping. On 15 June, he did not go to work in the morning and called a 993 ambulance to send him to Communicable Disease Centre at around noon time. Laboratory results confirmed his infection on Monday.
The 49th case is a 26-year-old Indonesian man who works in Singapore. He went to Melbourne with friends for a holiday on June 5. He developed symptoms on June 11 while he was there.
He returned to Singapore together with his companions on SQ228 at 9.33pm on June 14. He was seated at row 61, and was on the same flight as the 43rd, 44th and 45th cases who were seated at row 43.
He was not picked up by the thermal scanner at the airport as he did not have a fever then. He and his friend took a taxi home from the airport. The next morning, he sought medical attention at a GP clinic, and was given two days of medical leave.
Before he took a taxi to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he did some shopping first. Laboratory results confirmed his infection on Monday.
Contact tracing is ongoing for the two cases.
Passengers seated within rows rows 59-63 on SQ228 on June 14 who have not been contacted by MOH yet should call the MOH hotline at 1800-333 9999. All close contacts identified will be quarantined and provided with antiviral prophylaxis.
No contact tracing will be done for the close contacts on SQ15 on June 8 as the seven day quarantine period from the last day of contact with the 48th case has passed.
MOH advises travellers who have been to countries that have been considered by the World Health Organisation to have sustained community transmission or to be in transition towards community transmission, as well as countries that have been reported to have exported cases should immediately call 993 for medical assistance if they feel unwell within seven days of arrival.
Anyone who feels unwell are also strongly advised against travel.
Source : http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_391139.html
H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC
Two more cases reported in Singapore
THE Ministry of Health late on Tuesday confirmed two more cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in Singapore, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 49.
Of the 49 infections reported, 48 are imported cases with a travel history. One patient was a close contact of a confirmed case.
So far, 22 patients have been discharged. The remaining 27 patients (Cases 21 - 28, 30 - 32, and 34 - 49) are still in the hospital and their conditions remain stable.
Unlike the earlier imported cases, a number of the recent imported cases have engaged in extensive community activities such as working, shopping and participating in mass activities since their arrival here. Some have even travelled to Singapore even though they were already unwell prior to departure.
Said MOH: 'Such behaviour has considerably increased the difficulty of contact tracing and significantly heightened the risk of community spread here in Singapore.'
The 48th case reported on Tuesday is a 56-year-old German man who works in Singapore as a researcher at Biopolis. He went to Philadelphia, USA on May 28 to attend a conference. He developed symptoms on June 4 while he was there.
He returned to Singapore on SQ15 via Seoul at 1am on June 8. He was seated at row 52.
He was not picked up by the thermal scanner at the airport as he did not have a fever then. He took a taxi home from the airport, and stayed at home for the rest of the day. He went to work from June 9 - 12.
On the evening of June 11, he went to a function at the French Ambassador's Residence attended by about 70 persons. On June 13, he went to a shopping mall and had social activities at Clarke Quay. The next day, he attended a concert and did more shopping. On 15 June, he did not go to work in the morning and called a 993 ambulance to send him to Communicable Disease Centre at around noon time. Laboratory results confirmed his infection on Monday.
The 49th case is a 26-year-old Indonesian man who works in Singapore. He went to Melbourne with friends for a holiday on June 5. He developed symptoms on June 11 while he was there.
He returned to Singapore together with his companions on SQ228 at 9.33pm on June 14. He was seated at row 61, and was on the same flight as the 43rd, 44th and 45th cases who were seated at row 43.
He was not picked up by the thermal scanner at the airport as he did not have a fever then. He and his friend took a taxi home from the airport. The next morning, he sought medical attention at a GP clinic, and was given two days of medical leave.
Before he took a taxi to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he did some shopping first. Laboratory results confirmed his infection on Monday.
Contact tracing is ongoing for the two cases.
Passengers seated within rows rows 59-63 on SQ228 on June 14 who have not been contacted by MOH yet should call the MOH hotline at 1800-333 9999. All close contacts identified will be quarantined and provided with antiviral prophylaxis.
No contact tracing will be done for the close contacts on SQ15 on June 8 as the seven day quarantine period from the last day of contact with the 48th case has passed.
MOH advises travellers who have been to countries that have been considered by the World Health Organisation to have sustained community transmission or to be in transition towards community transmission, as well as countries that have been reported to have exported cases should immediately call 993 for medical assistance if they feel unwell within seven days of arrival.
Anyone who feels unwell are also strongly advised against travel.
Source : http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_391139.html
