REMARKS BY DR KOH POH KOON, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF HEALTH & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT DOORSTOP INTERVIEW ON PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IN VIEW OF RISING MEASLES CASES

1            The Communicable Disease Agency (CDA) is taking up some public health measures in view of the rising trend of measles that we see in Singapore.

2            This is something that we see in conjunction with the rising trend, particularly what we have observed around the world. As of 2024, World Health Organization (WHO) has observed about 11 million cases of measles worldwide. This is about 800,000 cases more than what they see in the pre-pandemic era. So, there is a rising trend, and this is also reflected in the increased cases we detect in Singapore.

3            In January this year, we detected about 11 cases of measles in Singapore. This is compared to two cases in January last year. And these 11 cases are not surprising, because of the rising trend, and also Singapore is quite open and exposed. We have a lot of visitors as a trade hub coming to Singapore. Singaporeans also travel quite widely. So, in these 11 cases that was diagnosed by January, about seven have travelled in the recent months. One was actually a tourist, and in fact, three were young children below the age of 12 months.

4            Because of that, we decided to step up our public health measures. Because what is interesting is, there were three cases that were genetically-linked when we analysed the profile of the genetic material from the virus. But while they are genetically-linked, they are not close contacts of one another, so this indicates that there's some degree of community transmission.

5            But the good thing is, in Singapore, we have a very high herd immunity in the population, more than 90% actually. So, the vast majority of us, because of our mandatory vaccination programme, are already immune. So, it is quite different from what we experienced in Covid. And therefore, the vast majority of us who are already immune, forms a very important personal defence against measles infection in Singapore.

6            But why we are stepping up public health measures is because there are still small pockets of people here who either because they are immunocompromised and those who are unable to mount a response for immunity against measles, or because they are children below the age of 12 months who have not yet received their MMR vaccine. So, to protect these vulnerable groups - small pockets of vulnerable individuals in our community, we decide that public health measures are necessary to form protection around them.

 7            What are these measures that will be implemented? First, there will be mandatory notification, because this is something that we have practised for, measles is a notifiable disease in Singapore. We will contact trace every single case of close contact, so that they will be put in isolation.

8            Infected cases, of course, will need to undergo isolation, either in hospital if they need treatment or if they are not required for hospitalisation, they will undergo mandatory isolation at home up to 21 days.

9            For those who are not immunised and are close contacts, they will need to undergo isolation for 21 days. If they have received immunisation or prophylactic treatment, post-exposure treatment, and can show that their immunity has been achieved, they may then leave their isolation much earlier. If they are also vulnerable, that means they are close contacts and they are young children who are not immunised yet, or if they are immunocompromised, or if they are pregnant women, then they could receive post-exposure prophylaxis, and if they show some immunity, they may then be taken off the isolation much earlier.

10         So, these are the kind of measures we put in to protect the vulnerable. And I think what we can do is collectively as a people, if you have young children at home who have not yet immunised, and you yourself have not had the vaccination, then the best thing to protect your family will be to go for vaccination yourself. And for Singaporeans who like to travel a lot, I think we need to take care - if you have symptoms and you are not sure, see a healthcare provider, get yourself treated or diagnosed. And if you have come to contact with others who may be an infected case, then protect yourself and others around you by taking all the necessary precautions, such as hygiene, self-precautions that we have actually all done in practice before during the Covid-19 crisis.

11         Thank you very much.