Update (IV) On Atypical Pneumonia Cases In Singapore

17 Mar 2003

One new patient with SARS was admitted since the MOH Press Release yesterday. She is a health care worker who was in contact with a case. As at 17 March 2003, we have a total of 21 patients of SARS. Other than the initial three cases, the additional 18 patients were all close contacts with patients of SARS. Ten are family members and friends, and eight are hospital staff. All the patients are stable, except for two patients who are in a serious condition.

The doctor, his wife and his mother-in-law are being treated in the infectious disease unit of a university hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. The conditions of the doctor and his mother-in law are stable.

The Ministry would like to reiterate that you should seek immediate medical attention if you have:

- Fever (>38 degrees Celsius) and respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty;

AND

- have travelled to Hong Kong, Hanoi or Guangdong province in China, within 2 weeks of onset of the symptoms; or

- are a close contact of persons diagnosed with SARS. (Close contact means having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS)

As a precautionary measure, the Ministry strongly advises you to avoid travel to Hong Kong, Hanoi and Guangdong province in China for the time being, unless absolutely necessary.

Related links:

Factsheets:

(a) Measures Taken To Control the Outbreak in Singapore

(b) About Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

(c) Frequently Asked Questions on SARS