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Ministry of Health
Parliamentary QA

RISK ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR LEGALLY NOTIFIABLE EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SYSTEMATIC APPLICATION TO OTHER DISEASES

4 November 2026

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1493

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 4 NOVEMBER 2026


Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Yip Hon Weng

MP for Yio Chu Kang


Question No. 2282

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what changes in the global epidemiological situation or Singapore's risk assessment led to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever and Marburg virus disease being made legally notifiable from 31 October 2026; (b) what criteria determine when an emerging infectious disease crosses the threshold for mandatory notification; and (c) whether these criteria are applied systematically to other emerging infectious diseases.


Answer

1               All three diseases are viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) of significant public health concern, characterised by high case fatality rates, potential for human-to-human transmission, and capacity to cause severe illness, with no approved vaccines or treatments currently available. The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has been monitoring the global activity of these diseases, and standing border health measures are already in place, including health declaration requirements in the SG Arrival Card. While the risk of transmission to Singapore currently remains low, the infectious disease landscape is constantly evolving. Since COVID-19, Singapore has strengthened its surveillance and preparedness posture. We have thus taken a more vigilant approach and included these among the list of notifiable diseases.