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02 Apr 2003
Situation update
As at 2 April, there were 3 additional SARS cases reported, bringing the total to 98.
Two of these new cases were reported in hospital staff who are linked back to the first index case. To date, 91 cases have arisen from the first index case, comprising 45 family members, friends or close contacts, and 46 hospital staff. Among these are 3 children below 18 years of age.
A 7th imported case was reported today. She is a 42 year-old Indonesian lady, the mother of the 5th imported case (17-year-old Indonesian student). She left Singapore for Hong Kong and Guangdong on 15 March 03 and returned to Singapore on 23 March 03. She became unwell on 24 March 03 and was admitted to TTSH as a suspect SARS case on 25 March 03.
So far, apart from the first imported case, the 6 other imported cases have not given rise to any SARS cases.
The total number of people who have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from hospital is 57. The remaining 37 patients are hospitalised, out of which 11 are in serious condition (including the fourth imported case).
The number of suspect cases is 47, including 2 children (below 18 years old) and the 20-year-old student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Discharge and follow-up of SARS patients
SARS patients are discharged from TTSH and followed up in accordance with the guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Upon discharge, SARS patients are given medical leave for two weeks and are required to stay at home. They are reviewed by the doctors at TTSH before they return to work or school. During their two weeks' medical leave at home, their condition is monitored by staff from TTSH through daily phone calls.
Update on Children with SARS
One of the children with SARS is the 4-year-old boy from Pat's Schoolhouse whose condition remains stable. None of the children in the Schoolhouse have developed SARS as of today, 12 days later.
Another is the 17-year-old brother of the above boy, who did not attend school during the school holidays. He has since been discharged, together with his 13-year-old sister from Pei Cai Secondary School who was a suspect SARS case.
The third child with SARS is the 17-year-old Indonesian boy from Bowen Secondary School. His condition is stable.
Precautionary measures - air and sea passengers
To minimise the import of SARS cases, Singapore has tightened screening measures for incoming flights into Changi Airport from affected countries as identified by WHO. Since 18 Mar 03, health advisory cards have been issued to passengers from in-bound/ out-bound flights from/ to affected countries. As an added precautionary measure, nurses have been stationed at Changi Airport to check on visibly unwell passengers 31 Mar 03. Those who have fever will be sent to TTSH for assessment.
With these measures, there are now three lines of checks for passengers on in-bound flights from affected countries - by airlines' counter staff before the passengers' boarding from these countries, crew members on board the aircraft, and nurses when the passengers arrive in Singapore.
The majority of passengers from affected countries come into Singapore by air. However, as an added control, we will also tighten screening measures at the Singapore Cruise Centre for incoming sea passenger vessels from affected countries. Like passengers arriving by air, incoming sea passengers will receive health advisory cards and will go through a visual screening by nurses when they disembark. This additional measure will be implemented from 3 Apr 03.
Expanded list for travel advisory
Singaporeans are advised to heed the Ministry's travel advisory and not travel to Hong Kong, Guangdong Province, Taiwan, Shanxi, Hanoi (in Vietnam) and Toronto (in Canada), in accordance with the WHO's list of affected areas.
Two passengers still missing
There has been no further update since yesterday's press statement. We are still unable to locate the remaining 2 passengers:
(a)Ho Kee Siong
(b)Wang Ying
MOH will continue to try to trace them based on information received from SIR as well as information received through the hotline. The Ministry urges these persons or anyone who knows their whereabouts to call 91788389 with the information.