Update On The H1N1 Cases And Progress Of Contact Tracing

31 May 2009

 As of 31 May 1500hrs , MOH has served 82 HQOs to close contacts of the five H1N1 confirmed cases. All the five patients have relatively mild symptoms and are doing well. Three of them have been discharged today. All their close contacts on HQO are also reported to be well and have been given Tamiflu as chemoprophylaxis.

Update on First Case

2 The 22-year old female SMU student is into the fifth day of Tamiflu treatment at CDC. She is well and in stable condition.

Update on Second, Third and Fourth Cases

3 For the above cases, they have been discharged from CDC today as they have been cleared of H1N1 virus. They are now on medical leave. MOH has  accounted for all the close contacts  of the above  three H1N1 confirmed cases in Singapore.  To date we have established a  total of 131 close contacts comprising 121 flight passengers and 10 local contacts. We have issued 45 HQO to the 53 flight passengers who are in Singapore. We have provided ICA with the details of the 8 remaining passengers. 68 flight passengers were already out of Singapore.

4 For Case 2 involving the 28-year-old Singaporean male who travelled on UA 895 on 25 May 09,  MOH has established 66 close contacts comprising 65 flight passengers and one local contact (his wife). 24 were identified for quarantine, of whom 13 are Singaporeans and 11 are foreigners. We are still contacting 5 others, while remaining 37 contacts are out of Singapore.

5 For Case 3 involving the 28-year-old American female expatriate who travelled on UA 803 on 26 May, we have established 23 close contacts comprising 20 flight passengers and three local contacts. Of the three local contacts, two were from her household, and one from the workplace. 11 were identified for quarantine, of whom two are Singaporeans and nine are foreigners. We are still contacting 3 others. The remaining 9 contacts are out of Singapore.

6 For Case 4 involving a 43-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who travelled on SQ 917 on 26May 09, we have established 42 close contacts comprising 36 flight passengers and six local contacts. The six local contacts consist of the patient’s friend and five colleagues. 20 were identified for quarantine, of  whom nine are Singaporeans while 11 are foreigners. The remaining 22 contacts are out of Singapore. 

Contact Tracing is on-going  for fifth case

7 Contact tracing of all the close contacts of the fifth case , involving the 22- year-old Singaporean female who has a travel history to the USA from 13 – 28 May (Vermont and New York), is still in progress. MOH has so far identified 20 close contacts comprising 5 family members who are local contacts and 15 passengers who are close contacts on the flight. Her 5 family members, who are local contacts, are currently well and will be placed under HQO. Their HQO will end on 6 June. Of the 15 passengers, MOH has so far managed to contact 4 of them and HQOs will be served to them. Their HQO will end on 6 June. Five passengers are known to be outside Singapore. 

8 For all the close contacts who are out of country, we have alerted WHO and our IHR counterparts. In addition, we have conveyed all available flight information on the connecting flights to the relevant IHR focal points for their follow up action. We have also provided all contact particulars to ICA to notify MOH should they turn up at our checkpoints.

9 MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public on any new developments. For more information on Influenza A (H1N1-2009), please access MOH’s website at www.moh.gov.sg, call our hotline at 1800-333 9999, or visit www.flu.gov.sg.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

31 May 2009