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Singapore confirms first H1N1 flu case

Wed, May 27, 2009 AsiaOne

Singapore has confirmed its first case of Influenza A (H1N1), the country's Health Ministry (MOH) said today. The patient, a 22-year-old Singaporean woman, is currently being treated at the Communicable Disease Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and is in stable condition. She was in New York from May 14 to 24 and arrived back in Singapore from New York on SQ25 on May 26 at 630am. She was seated at row 55 and developed a cough while on the flight. The woman passed the thermal scanner at the airport as she did not have a fever then. Later that morning, she consulted a GP who decided to send her to TTSH, given her travel history. She was immediately admitted for testing, and laboratory confirmation of her infection was made by midnight the same day. MOH has initiated contact tracing of her close contacts. They will be quarantined and provided with antiviral treatment. Passengers who travelled in the same flight and were seated in rows 52 to 58 are urged to call the Health Ministry hotline at 1800- 333 9999 so their health condition can be checked. MOH has reminded all medical practitioners and healthcare institutions to continue to be vigilant to suspect cases. It will continue with temperature screening for passengers entering Singapore at all checkpoints (land, sea and air). All passengers passing through or entering Singapore are given Health Alert Notices on board their flights, advising them to monitor their own health if they have been to affected areas and to seek medical attention immediately if they are not well. Advice from MOH Singaporeans are reminded to maintain high standards of personal hygiene. This means covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and washing hands frequently with soap and water, especially after contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., after sneezing and coughing). The public is also asked to cooperate and be socially responsible. This means staying home and avoiding crowded places (including trains, buses, offices), putting on a surgical mask and seeing a doctor if you have flu symptoms. MOH advises those who travelled to affected areas to closely monitor their health and seek treatment as soon as possible should they develop symptoms. The public is advised to exercise caution over travel to affected areas. In the event that travel is unavoidable, they are advised to take precautionary measures such as avoiding crowded areas and maintaining high standards of personal hygiene at all times. However, if you are unwell with fever and cough but have no travel history to affected areas, see a doctor and stay at home. MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public should there be any new developments. For more information on Influenza A (H1N1-2009), visit MOH’s website at www.moh.gov.sg, call the hotline at 1800-333 9999, or visit www.flu.gov.sg. **SOURCE**