Update on SARS - 29 May

29 May 2003

Situation Update

There were no new probable SARS cases, discharges or deaths reported today.

The total number of patients who have recovered from SARS stands at 165. 9 patients remained hospitalised, including 4 who are in intensive care.

New suspect cases

There were no new suspect cases today.

New observation cases

There are three new cases admitted today for fever. They are women aged 28, 75 and 84 years old. They do not have any contact history at this point in time.

Quarantine Figures*

The quarantine figures are as follows:

#Discharged patients under home quarantine = 344

Contacts under home quarantine = 1

Total under home quarantine orders = 345

*Quarantine cases refer to those who are required to stay at home for precautionary reasons as they may have had contact with a SARS patient. These are healthy individuals.

# This is an added precautionary measure for discharged SARS patients as well as those with co-morbidities.

Summary of SARS Cases

A summary of SARS cases is as follows:

Discharged: 165

Hospitalised: 9 (including 4 in ICU)

Deaths: 31

Probable cases: 206*

Suspect cases: 0

Observation cases: 5

*Includes 1 case who died from non-SARS causes

Update on foreign media stories of possible SARS cases, which are reported to be connected with Singapore

The NST (4 May) reported a SARS suspect, a 48-year-old welder from Kelantan, who works in Singapore. He had returned to Kelantan on 24 Apr. After falling ill on 26 April, he was warded at the Kota Baru hospital.

Our investigations revealed that the man did not have any fever when he crossed the Woodlands checkpoint on 24 Apr 03. Based on our contact tracing, he did not have contact with any SARS patient in Singapore. The only person who had close contact with him was a friend who drove him around Singapore in a van. His friend is well. His colleagues at his workplace office are also well. The welder was discharged from the Kota Baru hospital on 6 May. As such, he is unlikely to be a SARS suspect.

The Star (8 May) reported that a 20-year old male alarm system technician who worked in Singapore had been diagnosed as a suspected SARS case and was warded in Penang Hospital. The patient was discharged on 10 May. His X-ray is clear and he is reported to be well. None of his colleagues in his company have fallen ill or showed symptoms of SARS.

Travel Advisory

MOH urges the public to heed WHO?s advice to postpone travel to Beijing, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Tianjin and Taiwan until another time.