Singapore to stay on yellow alert even if confirmed H1N1 cases surface

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Singapore to stay on yellow alert even if confirmed H1N1 cases surface

Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, May 13

SINGAPORE: The H1N1 flu alert level in Singapore will remain at yellow even if confirmed cases surface here.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said this is because the fatality rate associated with the H1N1 virus is currently very low and there is a possibility it may simply become one of the normal influenza strains.

The H1N1 virus has affected over 5,000 people in some 30 countries, including two people in nearby Thailand.

And so far, the virus has claimed five lives outside Mexico.

With this low fatality rate, the Health Ministry said the flu alert level will remain at yellow even when confirmed cases appear here.

So for example, if the confirmed case is a student, he will be isolated and his classmates put on home quarantine.

Mr Khaw however said there would be no need to close the school or quarantine all its students and staff.

Likewise, if a hotel guest is found with the virus, there would be no need to shut the entire hotel.

And if an airplane passenger is infected, only those seated close to him will be quarantined.

The rest would be free to go though they would be advised to closely monitor their own health and seek help promptly if they are sick.

The exception would be places where people come into close contact with one another, such as childcare centres or foreign worker dormitories.

"It is likely that H1N1 is going to be here with us permanently," Mr Khaw said at a media conference on Tuesday.

"Our control measures must therefore be designed for long term sustainable operations and not for tackling a one—off acute episode."

"Given the ease of transmission, it will likely be endemic globally," added Mr Khaw.

The minister believes it is inevitable a case will surface here.

So in the weeks ahead, the Health Ministry will replenish its stock of Tamiflu, Relenza and N95 masks.

It will also work to plug gaps in the primary healthcare system.

Mr Khaw said that while hospitals are fully prepared because of the SARS experience, the same cannot be said for all general practitioners.

Some GPs are not receiving the Health Ministry's circular because they are not on the messaging system, while other GPs do not stock up on Tamiflu and N95 masks.

But these clinics are in the minority.

800 GPs have volunteered to allow their premises to be used as pandemic preparedness clinics.

A team of public health experts will also be sent to affected countries to study their experiences.

But other than these measures, it is going to be life as usual.

Mr Khaw said: "The June holidays are coming up. Families can continue with lives as per normal. So please go on holiday...But please try to avoid vacations to affected countries, which in the current setting means North America."

The H1N1 virus affects younger children more severely, though. Hence, parents may want to factor that in when making vacation plans.

— CNA/ir

From Yahoo! News; see the source article here.