Health Ministry takes correct strong measures

Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore
From: "truth"
Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 15:56:31 GMT
Local: Fri, May 1 2009 11:56 pm
Subject: Health Ministry takes correct strong measures

http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20090430-138547.html

Thu, Apr 30, 2009
AsiaOne

As of today, there are no human cases of Mexican swine flu in
Singapore. The Health Ministry, however, has raised the Disease Outbreak
Response System Alert status from Yellow to Orange.

There is a real possibility that such cases may surface in Singapore,
the Ministry said in a statement, and the country must be prepared to delay
its spread to Singapore for as long as possible.

The new precautionary measures implemented under the Orange Alert
Status include:

Healthcare Institutions

- Temperature screening and screening for flu-like symptoms for
visitors to clinical care areas would be implemented

- Hospital staff are required to don personal protective equipment in
all areas with patient contact

- Each patient would be restricted to one visitor

Enhanced surveillance

- Those with a travel history to Mexico over the past seven days will
be quarantined for seven days on their return to Singapore and undergo phone
surveillance for symptoms for Mexican swine flu.

Those who develop symptoms will be referred to the Communicable
Diseases Centre (CDC) for a thorough assessment. A dedicated ambulance
service (tel 993) has been activated to convey such patients to CDC. Should
evidence arise that other countries besides Mexico are exporting cases, MOH
will also consider imposing similar conditions for travellers returning from
those areas.

Members of the public who are returning from other affected areas -
the states of New York, California, Kansas and Texas in the United States
and the state of Nova Scotia in Canada - are advised to stay at home for
seven days upon return and check themselves for symptoms for Mexican swine
flu.

They should practice social distancing and refrain from joining mass
gatherings, for e.g. going to the cinemas, shopping malls, or supermarkets.
Those who develop respiratory illness with fever (Temperature > 38 degrees
Celsius) within seven days after their return should put on a surgical mask
and call 993 for an ambulance. They should also disclose their travel
histories to their doctors.

- MOH also encourages schools, workplaces and places of mass gathering
to conduct temperature checks routinely. Those with a higher-than-normal
temperature should be advised to seek treatment immediately.

Recording of all information of all visitors, including the date and
time of visit, personal particulars and contact number of visitors, is
recommended as it will facilitate contact tracing when the need arises.

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Singapore Airlines to issue health kits

All passengers on board Singapore Airlines flights to the United
States will be issued health kits containing a thermometer, masks and
antiseptic towels.

For those on flights from the US. thermometers will be provided on a
request basis should they feel unwell.

In addition, cabin and flight crew will undergo mandatory temperature
checks prior to operating a flight.