Update (XIII) On SARS Cases In Singapore

26 Mar 2003

As at 26 March 03, a total of 74 people with SARS have been reported to the Ministry of Health. The 5 additional patients are hospital staff. All these cases are still traced back to the index cases. 13 patients have been discharged from hospital while the remaining 60 patients are hospitalised. All the patients are stable except for 10 patients who are in serious condition. One patient who was in intensive care passed away on 25 March 2003.

SARS is not infectious until the person develops fever. Transmission of SARS is only through close contact with infected persons. All the SARS cases in Singapore so far are close contacts which are linked to the three index cases.

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 members and 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 MOH Home Quarantine Order as proof of their need to be absent from work. MOH is appealing to all employers whose staff are quarantined to extend their understanding and compassion to these people and grant them paid leave for the duration of their quarantine period.

Continue to heed travel advisory

The Ministry of Health advises the public 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 cut off any imported index 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 of Health 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 Tan Tock Seng Hospital to avoid bogging down its resources.