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29 Apr 2003
Situation Update
Today, 2 more patients have been discharged, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered from SARS to 139. 38 patients remained hospitalised, of whom 16 are in intensive care.
There were two new probable cases reported today. One is the 37 year old brother of the probable SARS case (the 41-year old man) announced on 26 Apr 03. He has been on home quarantine since the 20th April. He become unwell on 27 April 03 and was admitted to TTSH 28 April 03.
The other new case is a 43 year old man who worked as a taxidriver. He developed a fever on Friday, 11 April 03. From the 12 April 03, he did not return to work and remained at home. He consulted his GP on 12 April 03 and again on 15 April 03 when he was referred to the Emergency Department (ED) of Changi General Hospital for viral fever. At CGH ED, blood tests were done which were normal. He was diagnosed as having viral fever and discharged with two days of medical leave. On the morning of 19 April 03, he complained of sudden onset of breathlessness and collapsed at home. He was brought by ambulance to CGH. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead at about 9.30 am on 19 April 03. As he was classified as a Coroner's case, a post mortem was conducted on 20 April 03. Microscopic examination of the tissues showed lung damage from a possible infection. Tissues taken for further investigations have been reported as being positive for coronavirus. Investigations are underway to determine the source of his infection and contact tracing is in progress.
Situation Update of Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market (PPWM)
As of today, 2 suspect cases (1 visitor and 1 friend) related to the PPWM has been discharged. There are currently 12 suspect cases admitted in relation to PPWM. They consist of 1 worker, 9 visitors to the market, and 2 family and friend contacts.
Suspect Patients
There were 17 patients who were admitted as new suspect cases today. Of these, 1 had been on home quarantine. 2 were persons with fever who had visited the PPWM during the period of 5 - 19 April 03. 3 were persons with fever who had travelled overseas. For healthcare workers, those picked up to have high or prolonged fever by their hospitals' staff temperature monitoring system, are admitted to TTSH for observation as suspect cases. 6 such healthcare workers were admitted today. The remaining 5 patients were persons with fever admitted for further investigations.
Quarantine Figures*
#Discharged patients under home quarantine: 419
PPWC Quarantine: 1917
Contacts under home quarantine: 665
Total under home quarantine orders: 3001
*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: 139
Hospitalised: 38 (including 16 in intensive care)
Deaths: 23 + 1 (pending further post mortem test results)
Total No. of Probable Cases: 201
Total No. of Suspect Cases: 116 (including 5 children below 18)
Travel advisory
MOH urges the public to heed World Health Organisation (WHO)'s advice to postpone travel to Hong Kong, Guangdong, Beijing, Shanxi and Toronto until another time.
Public Education Message for the Day
- Practise good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle to prevent infection. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. Spit into a toilet bowl or tissue.
- Cough or blow your nose into a tissue paper. Have a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Have enough rest and sleep early.