SARS: You Can Help By Taking Sensible Precautions (29 Mar)

29 Mar 2003

Situation Update

As at 29 March 03, a total of 89 people with SARS have been reported to the Ministry of Health. The 3 additional patients, who are family members of SARS cases, are still traced back to the initial 3 index cases. This brings the total number of family members, friends or close contacts infected by SARS to 44, and the total number of hospital staff infected by SARS to 41. These 85 cases are all linked to the first 3 index cases. The number of infected children still remains at 3.

To date, 28 patients have been discharged from hospital, 2 have died and the remaining 59 patients are hospitalised. All the patients are stable except for 13 patients who are in serious condition, including the fourth index case.

The fourth imported case reported yesterday is a 29 year old Chinese female who travelled to Hong Kong on 14 March 03 and then to Beijing on 15 March 03. While in Beijing, she became ill on 19 March 03. She arrived back in Singapore on Southern China Airlines CZ 355 at Terminal 1, Changi Airport on 26 March 03 at 5.38 am. Accompanied by her mother, she took a taxi from the airport to the Accident & Emergency Department, Singapore General Hospital. From there, she was transferred by ambulance and admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Of the 49 passengers on board CZ 355, 31 (including the case) have been traced. They are all well. Home Quarantine Orders are being issued. The 9 crew members of CZ355 returned to China on 26 Mar 03. The Southern China Airlines has taken action to bar them from flights for 10 days. The names of the remaining 18 passengers who we have still been unable to locate are:

1. Chen Hai Yun

2. Fan Jun

3. Fu Bo

4. Han Ji Zhang

5. Hao Xiu Lan

6. Ho Kee Siong

7. Ji Ai Jing

8. Koh Meng Heng

9. Li Xu

10. Ma Yun Xin

11. Sun Dong Chang

12. Teo Ho Cheng

13. Wang Ying

14. Wang Gui Yan

15. Yang Yong

16. Zhang Feng Lan

17. Zhao Chun Yang

18. Zhao Li Ying

The Ministry urges these persons or anyone who knows their whereabouts and the identity of the taxi driver to call 91788389 with the information.

Precautionary measures by Singapore

Singapore has taken extra precautionary measures, beyond WHO's recommended control measures, to ensure that the spread is contained. These include isolating all suspected and SARS patients in TTSH, enhanced infection control measures for hospital staff and instituting home quarantine measures for those who have come into contact with people diagnosed with SARS. The key strategy is to identify suspect cases once they show symptoms of the disease and isolate them to prevent transmission to more people. The closure of schools is to allay the concerns of parents. We will step up efforts to help the public understand the nature of SARS and how they could help us in our efforts to minimise the risk of community spread.

SARS is not infectious until the person develops fever. Transmission of SARS is only through close contact with infected persons. We believe that if everyone exercises social responsibility, we can tackle the SARS outbreak here calmly, without too many disruptions to our normal routines.

We urge all people to help us in our efforts by taking these simple precautions.

• Heed our travel advisory and avoid travelling to Hong Kong, Hanoi and Guangdong province in China for the time being, unless absolutely necessary.

• If you have travelled to these places, be vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if you have fever (more than 38 degree celsius) and respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty. Do not fly if you have developed such symptoms.

• If you think that you have been exposed to persons diagnosed with SARS, and later develop a fever, do not go to work. See a doctor immediately.

• If you are unwell, avoid crowded places.