By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 June 2009 1828 hrs
H1N1 screening by Tan Tock Seng Hospital staff
SINGAPORE: A recent poll has shown that 25 per cent of Singaporeans will avoid those who have been quarantined for the H1N1 flu, even after they have been given the all-clear.
During the height of the H1N1 global outbreak, Darren – not his real name – was quarantined after coming into contact with someone with a recent travel history to Mexico.
Recalling his experience, he said: "My aunt's sister, who stays next to us, told me not to share the plates and cups, and asked me not to share the same table... I felt annoyed, helpless and rejected."
Although Darren's quarantine ended on May 7, he remains uneasy about his quarantine history and prefers not to disclose it to others.
"You can see from their expression that they are a bit sceptical, a bit worried... From that reaction, it proved my view that people are still worried about this flu," he said.
Like Darren, many of those who were on self or home quarantine have refused to be interviewed by Channel NewsAsia, citing privacy issues.
According to sociologists, due to the fact that not much is known about the H1N1 strain, many of them are afraid of being stigmatised by others.
In a recent MSN poll of some 4,700 Singaporeans, a quarter said they would avoid those who were previously quarantined, while 15 per cent of the respondents were unsure if they should stay away because they did not know enough about the H1N1 flu.
Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, deputy head, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, said: "A lot has to do with how well they would recover. If they recover without incident, I don't think there would be that much public reaction to it."
Since May 11, Singapore has lowered its pandemic alert level to yellow. Home quarantine orders are now issued to those who have had close contact with confirmed cases of Influenza A.
Mandatory quarantine order for travellers to Singapore with a recent travel history to Mexico was lifted last month.
- CNA/so
From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.
H1N1 screening by Tan Tock Seng Hospital staff SINGAPORE: A recent poll has shown that 25 per cent of Singaporeans will avoid those who have been quarantined for the H1N1 flu, even after they have been given the all-clear.
During the height of the H1N1 global outbreak, Darren – not his real name – was quarantined after coming into contact with someone with a recent travel history to Mexico.
Recalling his experience, he said: "My aunt's sister, who stays next to us, told me not to share the plates and cups, and asked me not to share the same table... I felt annoyed, helpless and rejected."
Although Darren's quarantine ended on May 7, he remains uneasy about his quarantine history and prefers not to disclose it to others.
"You can see from their expression that they are a bit sceptical, a bit worried... From that reaction, it proved my view that people are still worried about this flu," he said.
Like Darren, many of those who were on self or home quarantine have refused to be interviewed by Channel NewsAsia, citing privacy issues.
According to sociologists, due to the fact that not much is known about the H1N1 strain, many of them are afraid of being stigmatised by others.
In a recent MSN poll of some 4,700 Singaporeans, a quarter said they would avoid those who were previously quarantined, while 15 per cent of the respondents were unsure if they should stay away because they did not know enough about the H1N1 flu.
Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, deputy head, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, said: "A lot has to do with how well they would recover. If they recover without incident, I don't think there would be that much public reaction to it."
Since May 11, Singapore has lowered its pandemic alert level to yellow. Home quarantine orders are now issued to those who have had close contact with confirmed cases of Influenza A.
Mandatory quarantine order for travellers to Singapore with a recent travel history to Mexico was lifted last month.
- CNA/so
From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.
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