Suspected Case Of Atypical Pneumonia On Board An SIA Flight

16 Mar 2003

On 15 March 2003, the Ministry of Health was informed by a colleague of a Singaporean doctor on board flight SQ 25 from New York to Singapore via Frankfurt, that he had symptoms suggestive of atypical pneumonia. The Ministry received this information when the aircraft was already airborne enroute from New York to Frankfurt.

The doctor had in early March 03 treated one of the patients in Singapore who had atypical pneumonia after returning from travel to Hong Kong. The doctor had left Singapore for New York on 11 March 03 for a medical conference and fell ill with fever while in New York. The doctor was accompanied by two other Singaporean companions.

In Singapore, from 13 to 15 March 03, 13 new cases of atypical pneumonia who were close contacts of the initial 3 patients with atypical pneumonia were admitted. These comprised 6 family members and friends of the initial 3 patients of atypical pneumonia and 7 hospital staff who had attended to the initial 3 patients who had atypical pneumonia.

Upon receipt of this information on the doctor, the Ministry of Health assessed that the doctor may be a suspected case of atypical pneumonia. As a precautionary measure to safeguard public health, the Ministry contacted Singapore Airlines and the health authorities in Germany to inform them of the situation.

When the plane landed in Frankfurt, the doctor and his two travelling companions were admitted to a local hospital for medical management. The remaining Singapore bound passengers will be put on board another SIA aircraft for their flight to Singapore.

Upon arrival in Singapore, the passengers will be provided with a health advisory and briefing by officers from the Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency on what they should do if they should develop symptoms suggestive of atypical pneumonia.

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