Influenza Situation In Singapore

14 Jan 2000

The influenza epidemic has hit the US and Europe and recently it has spread to some Asian countries/cities such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health's surveillance system of weekly attendances for Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and influenza at the government polyclinics for the month of Dec 99 to-date has not shown any significant increase in the number of attendances. The weekly average number of attendances fluctuated from 8,000 to 10,000 cases.

The current average weekly attendances for ARI is well below the epidemic threshold. In Jan 99, when there was an influenza outbreak in Singapore, the number of attendances for ARI ranged from about 14,000 to 20,000.

NATURE OF THE FLU VIRUS

Influenza is a bigger problem in temperate countries especially during winter because of the poorer ventilation indoors as windows are kept shut. The virus is thus more easily spread. In Singapore, influenza occurs all year round with two peak periods, around Apr-Jun and during the colder months of Nov-Dec.

Influenza is an acute viral disease of the respiratory tract, usually presenting with fever, cough, sorethroat and running nose. The strain of influenza affecting Europe, North America and some Asian countries currently, the Influenza A/Sydney (H3N2) strain, is the same strain involved in the influenza epidemic in Singapore last year.The disease is transmitted by the airborne route through droplets or close contact with an infected person. Persons of all ages can be affected but children and the elderly may be more severely affected and may occasionally have complications such as pneumonia. In the majority of cases, however, the illness is self-limiting and patients recover within a week.

THE MINISTRY'S ADVICE

To avoid catching influenza, members of the public, particularly children and the elderly, are advised to avoid visiting crowded places. People can combat influenza by building up their body resistance by having a proper diet with adequate exercise and rest. People who develop influenza-like symptoms should consult their family doctors promptly. Strenuous physical activities like running and jogging should be avoided during the illness until complete recovery.

The Ministry of Health would like to advise travellers especially older adults going to countries with influenza epidemic to protect themselves against the disease with influenza vaccination. The vaccination should be taken 1 to 2 weeks prior to departure as it takes time for the vaccination to take effect. Influenza vaccination is available at the Traveller's Clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Changi General Hospital. Travellers returning from these countries and who have developed influenza-like symptoms are advised to seek medical attention promptly.