Update (XII) On SARS Cases In Singapore

25 Mar 2003

As at 25 March 03, a total of 69 people with SARS have been reported to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The 4 additional patients reported today comprise a hospital staff and 3 close contacts of patients. All these cases are still traced back to the index cases. 13 patients have been discharged from hospital while the remaining 56 patients are hospitalised. All the patients are stable except for 11 patients who are in serious condition.

With the control measures instituted so far, including implementation of home quarantine to isolate all contacts who have been diagnosed with SARS, the Ministry of Health would like to assure the public that there is little risk of a community spread. We would also like to emphasize that the disease is not infectious until symptomatic. The home quarantine measures are additional safeguards to cut off any possible transmission to more people. It enables contacts who may become symptomatic to be picked up earlier and limits the exposure of other people to symptomatic contacts. It does not mean that people under quarantine are infectious currently.

To date, there have been no additional children who have contracted SARS. There had been reports circulating about a 2-year old girl from the Little Skool House who had contracted pneumonia and high fever. This is not true. Doctors at KKH have confirmed that clinically, the girl does not have SARS.

The Ministry was notified of the death of a cancer patient at NUH who had previously travelled to Hong Kong and who had developed pneumonia. The death has not been classified as a death from SARS because the patient did not have the symptoms suggestive of SARS.

Home Quarantine Measures

The Ministry would like to remind all persons served the quarantine order to stay at home for the period indicated in the letter to them. They should minimise contacts with other family friends or friends and to check their temperature everyday. NEA officers will also be checking with these contacts daily and conducting spot checks. If they develop symptoms suggestive of the illness, they will be immediately referred to TTSH for further evaluation and treatment if necessary. If they do not develop any of the symptoms of SARS after 10 days, they are unlikely to contract SARS. The public can call 1800-2254122 from 8.30am to 6.00 pm from Mon-Fri and Sat from 8.30am to 1.30pm.

The Ministry is also asking all employers whose staff are affected by the home quarantine measure to accept the letter from MOH to the contacts as valid medical leave certificate from work. MOH would like to appeal to all employers whose staff are quarantined to extend their understanding and compassion to these people.

Tighter Screening Measures in school

The Ministry would also like to assure parents that the tighter screening measures in school are precautionary measures. Children who have come back from the affected countries and who have not shown any symptoms are not infectious. This is based on the detailed analysis of all the SARS cases in Singapore so far.

It is not necessary to close all schools as the measures that have been put in place are adequate

Travel advisory

The public should continue to avoid travel to Hong Kong, Hanoi and Guangdong province in China for the time being, unless absolutely necessary. This would help us greatly in our efforts to contain the number of new cases.

We also advise you to stay calm and continue with your daily routine. Though SARS is infectious, there is no need for alarm as your risk of catching SARS is low. WHO has reported that the disease is spread from person to person but only through close contact with an infected person. There is no evidence to date that the disease spreads through casual contact.

The Ministry would like to reiterate that you should seek immediate medical attention if you have:

- Fever (more than 38 degree celsius) and respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty;

AND

- have travelled to Hong Kong, Hanoi or Guangdong province in China, within 2 weeks of onset of the symptoms; or

- are a close contact of persons diagnosed with SARS. (Close contact means having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS)

Unless you have the above symptoms AND a similar travel history or personal contact with infected persons, the Ministry urges the public to seek the advice of a GP first and not go to the Communicable Disease Centre to avoid bogging down its resources.

Concerned members of the public can call MOH hotline at tel: 1800-225-4122 during office hours.