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10 May 2003
Situation Update
1 more patient has been discharged, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered from SARS to 155. 22 patients remain hospitalised, of whom 9 are in intensive care.
Reports of Foreigners Contracting SARS in Singapore
The Ministry of Health (MOH) investigates every reported foreign case of suspected or probable SARS, who has been reported to have had a travel history to Singapore. Active contact tracing is carried out to identify all possible contacts of these reported cases to prevent further spread of infection. We work closely with the relevant health authorities in other countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to determine crucial information, such as their dates of stay in Singapore and the date of their onset of SARS.
Malaysian health officials had confirmed on 8 May 2003 that its 7th probable SARS case involving a 28-year-old woman who visited her boyfriend in Singapore does not have SARS. The woman from Raub, Pahang visited her boyfriend in Singapore between 11 and 19 Apr 03 and fell ill on 26 Apr 03. She was admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur on 1 May. Our contact tracing for her boyfriend in Singapore also reported that he is well.
N95 Masks and Healthcare Workers
WHO has reported that N95 masks provide high levels of protection for healthcare workers managing SARS patients. When worn properly and correctly "fit tested", the N95 mask provides sufficient protection against SARS for routine clinical procedures among suspected or probable cases of SARS. However, the N95 respirator mask is not suitable for more invasive procedures e.g. intubation prior to ventilation of a suspected or probable SARS patient. For such procedures, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is recommended. The US Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) also has similar recommendations to prevent the transmission of SARS.
These practices are already in place in our hospitals in Singapore. The experience in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has indicated that the use of N95 masks and PAPRs together with strict infection control precautions has been effective in protecting our healthcare workers from SARS.
WHO has also stated in its advisory that it is not necessary to wear a mask in public. We advise those who are unwell and are on the way to see a doctor to put on a surgical mask.
Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC)
There are no new admissions of suspect SARS patients who may be related to the PPWC cluster. However, 1 worker from PPWC was admitted for observation of fever.
New Suspect Cases
There were 2 patients today who were diagnosed as suspect cases. One of them came from a SARS-affected area (from Manila, transit in Singapore to Spain). The other had contact with his brother who was admitted to an Australian hospital as a suspected SARS case.
New Observation Cases
There were 2 patients admitted today as observation cases. They comprise 1 patient who had travelled to Manila recently and 1 patient whose contact history has not been established yet.
Quarantine Figures*
#Discharged patients under home quarantine 414
Contacts under home quarantine 298
Total under home quarantine orders 712
*Quarantine cases refer to those who are required to stay at home for precautionary reasons as they may have had contact with a SARS patient. These are healthy individuals.
# This is an added precautionary measure for discharged SARS patients as well as those with co-morbidities.
Summary of SARS cases
A summary of the SARS cases to date:
Discharged: 155
Hospitalised: 22 (including 9 in intensive care)
Deaths: 27
Probable Cases: 205*
Suspect Cases: 9 (includes 1 child under 18 years)
Observation Cases: 15
* includes 1 case who died for non-SARS cause
Travel advisory
MOH urges the public to heed the WHO's advice to postpone travel to Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Tianjin and Taipei until another time.