Singapore remains in DORSCON Yellow for Influenza A (H1N1-2009) Pandemic

12 Jun 2009

1. On 11 June 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the level of influenza pandemic for H1N1 (2009) alert from phase 5 to phase 6. WHO considered that at this early stage, the pandemic can be characterised globally as being moderate in severity. Countries were advised to assess their specific situation and make a timely transition from focusing national efforts on containment to focusing on mitigation measures.

2. In calibrating our Disease Outbreak Response System Alert (DORSCON) level to Yellow on 11 May, Singapore has already taken into account the above development.  In terms of control measures, we will be in containment mode for as long as it is practical to do so, and for as long as there is no community spread here in Singapore. Social responsibility and high standard of personal hygiene from all of us is still the most important and practical measure against H1N1 infection.

3. However, with a level 6 pandemic, the shift to mitigation measures may be inevitable. H1N1 has so far been reported in 74 countries and it may be a matter of time that we have community spread in Singapore. To prepare ourselves, we will gradually pace the shift of our control strategy from containment, i.e. "stopping the spread of the virus" to mitigation, i.e. "caring for those who fall ill".

Travel Advisory

4. In a pandemic outbreak, when the H1N1 virus is all over the world, and may last for a long time, specific travel advisory may become increasingly impractical. We encourage Singaporeans to keep themselves abreast of developments of the country they are planning to visit, and take note of the total number of cases reported, number of deaths and export cases from these countries.

5. As of 2 June, the countries considered by WHO to have sustained community transmission or to be in transition towards community transmission are USA, Mexico, Canada, UK, Spain, Chile, Australia, Japan. If travel to these areas is unavoidable, we encourage travellers to take the following precautionary measures:

- Pay attention to announcements from the local government.

- Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations.

- Avoid crowded areas and contact with anyone who appears unwell.

- Maintain high standards of personal hygiene at all times.

- Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water, especially before touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

- Turn quickly away from anyone near if they are about to cough or sneeze.

- Cover the nose and mouth with a piece of tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue paper properly in the dust bin after use.

After your return to Singapore from countries with sustained community transmission

6. Pay close attention to your health for 7 days, watching out for symptoms such as :

- High fever (> 38 deg C)

- Sore throat

- Cough

- Body aches

- Runny nose

- Headaches

- Tiredness

7. If you have any such symptoms, you should call 993 promptly for an ambulance. You should avoid taking public transport or taxi to minimise exposure. To help in contact tracing, the public may find it helpful to keep records of their movements for 7 days (for example by keeping taxi receipts) after their return.

8. Moving forward, MOH will post regular updates on our website to keep the public informed so that they can review their travel plans. The website will show 20 countries in terms of highest number of cases and deaths, as reported to WHO. Please refer to Annex (as of 12 June).

9. MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will keep the public informed on any new developments. For more information on Influenza A (H1N1-2009), please access MOH’s website at www.moh.gov.sg, call our hotline at 1800-333 9999, or visit www.flu.gov.sg.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

12 June 09

Annex (192 KB)