Update on confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) in Singapore

29 May 2009

As of 29 May 1100hrs, MOH has served 31 HQOs to close contacts of the four H1N1 confirmed cases. All the 4 patients have relatively mild symptoms and are doing well, and are expected to recover uneventfully. All their close contacts on HQO are also reported to be well and have been given Tamiflu as chemoprophylaxis.

Case 1 – 22-year-old female SMU student

2 She is into the third day of Tamiflu treatment. Her fever has subsided and she is in a stable condition. Her friend (who fetched her from the airport and to the GP) has been cleared of H1N1 infection. He was discharged last night and placed on home quarantine.

3 All her close contacts, comprising 71 on-flight contacts and two local contacts have been accounted for. HQOs have been served on 25 close contacts, 10 of them are Singaporeans and 15 of them are foreigners. Their HQOs will expire on 2 Jun.  The remaining 48 close contacts are not in Singapore.

Case 2 – 28-year-old Singaporean male

4 He returned to Singapore from Chicago via Hong Kong on flight United Airlines 895 on 25 May 0036 hrs. He became unwell on 25 May after arrival, and sought medical attention at a GP clinic on the same day. As he was given an MC, he stayed at home the whole day on 26 May. On 27 May afternoon, he consulted the same GP clinic again and was referred to TTSH via a 993 ambulance. Apart from his two visits to the GP clinic and to TTSH, he remained at home the entire period after arriving back in Singapore. He was admitted to CDC for further assessment on 27 May night. Laboratory results confirmed his infection at 1610 hours on 28 May. His wife has been placed under HQO and is currently well. Her HQO will end on 3 June. 

Case 3 – 28-year-old American female expatriate

5 She returned to Singapore on flight United Airlines 803 from Honolulu via Tokyo on 26 May 2353 hrs. She became unwell while on board and passed through the thermal scanner at the airport as she did not have a fever then.  She was referred by her company doctor to TTSH for assessment on 27 May afternoon via a 993 ambulance. Laboratory results confirmed her infection at 1610 hours on 28 May.

6 HQOs have been served on two local close contacts - her friend and her maid. Both contacts are currently well. Their HQOs will expire on 3 June.

Case 4 – 43-year-old female Singapore PR

7 She returned to Singapore from San Francisco via Manila on flight Singapore Airlines SQ917 on 26 May 1750 hrs. She became unwell while on board and passed through the thermal scanner at the airport as she did not have a fever then.  She consulted a GP on 27 May around noon and was referred to TTSH. As she did not have a fever at that time, she was advised to put on a mask and to take a cab to TTSH. She was admitted to CDC for further assessment that night.  Laboratory results confirmed her infection at 1400 hours on 28 May.

8 HQOs have been served on her local close contacts - her friend and two office colleagues. Their HQOs will expire on 3 Jun.

Contact Tracing is on-going

9 Contact tracing for all the close contacts of the latest three confirmed cases is still in progress. MOH has so far identified 122 passengers on the three flights who are close contacts of the latest three confirmed cases. Only half of these passengers (61 passengers) entered Singapore. We have so far managed to contact 18 of them and HQOs will be served to them.

10 Passengers within the first three and back rows of the cases who have not been contacted by MOH yet should call the MOH hotline at 1800-333 9999 to enable us to check on their health condition expeditiously.  The affected rows for SQ917 on 26 May are 30-36; for UA803 on 26 May, the affected rows are 30-36 and for UA895 on 25 May, the affected rows are 52-58.

11 MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public 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