| By Lee Hui Chieh | ||
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The patient is currently being treated at the Communicable Disease Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and is in stable condition. — ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
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Advice from MOH
SINGAPOREANS are reminded to maintain high standards of personal hygiene. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and washing your hand frequently with soap and water, especially after contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., after sneezing and coughing).
We also need the cooperation of everyone to 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.  |
While seated in row 55 on Singapore Airlines flight SQ25, she began to develop a cough, but she passed the thermal scanner at the airport later without being stopped, because she did not have a fever at the time.
Later that morning, she went to a general practitioner who decided to send her to Tan Tock Seng Hospital via the special ambulance service 993 meant for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) cases. Laboratory test confirmed her infection at midnight on Tuesday.
The patient is being treated at the TTH Communicable Disease Centre and is in stable condition. Her boyfriend, who picked up her at the airport and sent her home, is also under observation at the CDC and is expected to be quarantined there for at least four days.
The Health Ministry said the patient has been vigilant in monitoring her condition and had sought immediate medical attention once she realised she was unwell.
‘Her attending GP, through his quick response in activating the 993 ambulance for the patient, had also helped to minimise the spread of infection from this case,’ said a ministry statement.
In a statement on Wednesday, SMU said: ‘She returned to Singapore early morning on 26 May with the faculty member and another student, and went to see a doctor as she felt unwell during the flight. She informed the university on May 27 when she found out she was tested positive. She is now recovering in hospital and has not been back on campus since returning from New York. The university is in close touch with her.’
SMU said the faculty member and another student who returned with the infected student are both fine.
‘They are currently on home quarantine for the next 6 days and will continue to monitor their health and take temperature checks twice daily,’ added the university.
‘SMU has contacted the remaining 18 students on the New York study mission who have extended their stay in North America and alerted them to go for tests and remain vigilant.’
The Health Ministry has begun contact tracing of those who have been in close contact with the patient. They will be quarantined and given antivirals to prevent them from developing the disease.
The ministry asked passengers who had been seated in rows 52 to 58 on the same flight to call its hotline on 1800-333 9999, so that its officers can check on their health condition.
The Ministry has reminded all medical practitioners and healthcare institutions to continue to be vigilant to suspect cases. Temperature screening for passengers entering Singapore at all checkpoints – land, sea and air – will continue.
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.
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Tags: H1N1 FLU, Singapore, Singapore Forum, Singapore Kopitiam, Singaporetrivia, sunkopitiam, swine flu
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