WHO Removes Singapore From List Of Areas With Recent Local Transmission Of SARS

30 May 2003

The World Health Organization in Geneva has informed us (Annex A - below) that Singapore has been removed from the WHO list of areas with recent cases of local transmission of SARS, with effect from 31 May 03. It is a recognition of the comprehensive and rigorous measures that have been put in place in Singapore.

Notwithstanding the WHO announcement, there will be no pause in our efforts to maintain and further enhance all our existing measures to isolate and contain the disease and to prevent any export of the disease beyond our shores. The possibility of a future imported case sparking off clusters of SARS cases in Singapore cannot be discounted. We must therefore continue to maintain the highest level of vigilance especially at all our border checkpoints, at our hospitals and healthcare facilities, schools and tertiary institutions and all Government and other premises. So long as there are SARS affected areas in the region and the world, we cannot afford to let our guard down.

All Singaporeans, residents and organizations must continue to take the necessary precautions to detect, avoid and pre-empt any possibility of infection. Whilst we can and should now get on with life as normal, we must also prepare for the uncertainty that SARS may be with us for a long time. The world can only be safe from SARS when every country has SARS under control. We will continue to work closely with WHO and with our ASEAN + 3 partners to combat SARS and bring it under control.

Annex A

WHO's Email to Ministry of Health (MOH)

From: Dr. D. Heymann

Date: 30 May 2003

Time: 07:46 PM

Subject: Singapore no longer on list of countries with recent local transmission

Due to a technical problem with our automatic web release today (WHO is closed) the announcement we had planned for release at noon today, indicating that Singapore is no longer a country with local transmission of SARS, has not yet been released. This e-mail message is to confirm that Singapore will be removed from the list as of midnight Singapore time today.

Having come off the list Singapore is no longer requested by WHO to screen outgoing international passengers, though you may wish to continue this as a part of your activities related to SARS in continuing to ensure that the spread of SARS is contained worldwide. At the same time you may also wish to increase your activities to detect and respond to any imported cases should there be any. Thank you for your excellent collaboration these past months.

Dr. David Heymann

Executive Director

Communicable Disease Programmes

World Health Organisation