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27 May 2003
There were no new probable SARS cases, discharges or deaths reported today.
The total number of patients who have recovered from SARS still stands at 165. 9 patients remained hospitalised, including 5 who are in intensive care.
A previously unlinked SARS case now linked to the SGH cluster
We have established the source of infection of a case that was previously unlinked. This case is a 68 year old Chinese lady who was earlier reported on 23 April 03. Investigations have revealed that she had come into contact with a 63 year old female porter belonging to the SGH Ward 57/58 cluster of infections, who subsequently was diagnosed to have probable SARS on 14 April 03. It is believed that the porter was unwell at the time when she met the 68 year old lady. The 68 year old lady had not previously been identified as a contact of the porter.
Suspect Cases
There were no new suspect cases admitted to TTSH today.
Observation Cases
There are three observation cases today. They are a 70-year old male who was transferred from SGH, a 20-year old male and a 35-year old female. They do not have a definite contact history at this point in time.
Quarantine Figures*
The quarantine figures are as follows:
#Discharged patients under home quarantine = 397
Contacts under home quarantine = 59
Total under home quarantine orders = 456
*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 SARS cases is as follows:
Discharged: 165
Hospitalised: 9(including 5 in ICU)
Deaths: 31
Probable cases: 206*
Suspect cases: 1
Observation cases: 5
*Includes 1 case who died from non-SARS causes
Update on foreign media stories of possible SARS cases, which are reported to be connected with Singapore
NST and The Star (5 May) reported that a 35-year-old lorry driver who delivered computer parts to Woodlands in Singapore was a SARS suspect. Despite falling ill on 28 April, he had returned to Malaysia on 1 May, and was admitted to the isolation ward in a Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Our investigations showed that he travelled frequently to Singapore on delivery rounds. We understand that he has been diagnosed as having Klebsiella Septicaemia, and not SARS, and has been discharged from the hospital on 6 May 03.
Travel Advisory
MOH urges the public to heed WHO's advice to postpone travel to Beijing, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Tianjin and Taiwan until another time.