Just how urgent is the situation? It is a matter of life and death. Just how transparent is our government in dealing with the situation? Tell the people all the time. There is just no way that you will over-communicate. Under-communicate, perhaps, but over-communicate, NO.
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Separate test centre set up; new scientific committee formed to review measures Teo Xuanwei, xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg
IN the battle against H1N1, Singapore has beefed up its armour and its strategy team. Anticipating a spike in the numbers of H1N1 screenings, the Health Ministry (MOH) has set up a separate screening centre for high- and moderate-risk cases coming back from "hot" areas.
Starting from 10pm last night, suspected cases coming into Singapore from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom will be sent directly in a 993 ambulance to the Communicable Diseases Centre 2 — instead of Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) Emergency Department — for screening.
The rationale, said TTSH head of emergency department Eillyne Seow, is to segregate these high-risk (with travel history to the US, Mexico, and Canada) and moderate-risk (Japan, Spain and the UK) cases from the low-risk ones, who will continue to be screened at the emergency department decontamination area.
A patient brought to the new centre, which has the capacity to screen 80 to 100 cases at a time, will be put through tests that include blood tests and chest X-rays.
Once a case tests positive, sub-typing tests begin: Only swine H1N1 cases will be warded, while human H1N1 cases will be discharged. It takes an average of 12 hours before a conclusion is reached.
During this time, there is "almost zero chance" of contracting the virus from another person at the screening centre, Assoc Prof Seow stressed, as everyone will be wearing masks; the open-air centre has natural ventilation; and patients are kept 2 metres apart.
Meanwhile, MOH has formed a National Scientific Committee on Influenza A (H1N1) to review and make recommendations on refining Singapore's strategy and control measures.
The committee, chaired by MOH director of medical services Professor K Satku, will undertake a detailed study of local cases of H1N1, and make recommendations on treatment guidelines.
Genomic analysis and serial tracking of the virus will also be done to look for mutations and assess its potential impact.
From TODAYOnline.com; see the source article here.
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Protection can start from home, for the whole family
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