Singapore elevates flu alert level from yellow to orange

Apr 30, 2009, 10:04 GMT

   Singapore - Singapore raised its flu alert level from yellow to orange and further stepped up infection control measures, although no cases of human swine flu have been confirmed in the city state so far, the Ministry of Health said in a statement Thursday.

   The heightened alert came after the World Health Organisation raised the pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5.

   'There is a real possibility that such cases may surface in Singapore and we must be prepared at all fronts to delay its spread to Singapore for as long as possible,' the ministry said.

   So far, there had been 22 cases in total referred for further medical assessment.

   Of the 22 cases, 19 had been tested negative for influenza A. Two cases tested positive for usual circulating seasonal strains of influenza A and one case was pending laboratory investigations, the ministry said.

   Under the orange alert state, temperature screening and screening for flu-like symptoms for visitors to clinical care areas would be implemented.

   Singapore has already deployed temperature scanners at airports, ports and ferry terminals to check all incoming visitors.

   As an enhanced precautionary measure to guard against the swine flu those with a travel history to Mexico over the past seven days will be quarantined for a week on their return to Singapore and undergo phone surveillance, said the ministry.

   Members of the public who return from other affected areas would be advised to stay at home for a week upon return and check themselves for swine flu symptoms.

   The ministry advised schools, workplaces and other places of mass gathering to conduct temperature checks routinely.

   On Wednesday Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that Singapore was much better prepared for guarding against swine flu than in 2003 when an outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) killed 33 people locally.

   Khaw also stressed that the government had stockpiled enough doses of antiviral drugs to treat patients with swine flu should the need in Singapore arise.

   However, according to local media reports stocks of antiviral drugs and masks are running out at pharmacies and shops in Singapore.