home 쐽 THE STRAITS TIMES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 2009 PAGE B8

H1N1-hit researcher attended concert Cases so far

56-year-old returned from
US with flu symptoms but
sought help after a week
BY BEN NADARAJAN
& KIMBERLY SPYKERMAN
A GERMAN researcher who returned to
Singapore from the United States with flu
symptoms on June 8 continued with his
normal activities for a week before seek-
ing medical treatment.
During that time, he went to work for
several days, did some shopping, attend-
ed a concert and was at a function at the
French ambassador’s residence, which
was attended by about 70 people.
The 56-year-old man, who works at
the Biopolis, was diagnosed with the Influ-
enza A (H1N1) virus on Monday night.
He was one of two new H1N1 cases
here yesterday, bringing the total number
of affected people here to 49.
The second patient, an Indonesian
man who works here, went shopping just
before he went to the emergency depart-
ment at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
When he returned from Melbourne on
Sunday, he had already had flu symptoms
for three days. The Ministry of Health
(MOH) came out strongly yesterday to
remind travellers returning from areas
which have been listed as H1N1-affected
to seek medical attention immediately.
A statement from the ministry said a
number of recent patients engaged in “ex-
tensive community activities” such as
shopping, going to work and taking part
in mass activities after arriving here.
“Such behaviour has considerably
increased the difficulty of contact tracing
and significantly heightened the risk of
community spread here in Singapore,”
the MOH statement said.
In several earlier cases, patients also
went to work, attended school and social
gatherings, and took public transport
even though they had flu symptoms and
had returned from affected areas such as
Melbourne.
The German patient rested at home for
a day, but then went to work for three
days. Last Thursday evening, he attended
a function hosted by the French ambassa-
dor for about 70 guests. Over the week-
end, he went shopping, went to Clarke
Quay and attended a concert.
It was only on Monday morning –
seven days after returning to Singapore –
that he called the MOH hotline for a 993
ambulance to take him to the Communica-
ble Disease Centre.
Just like a few others, both patients
also got on their flights back to Singapore
despite already having symptoms.
Dr Lam Pin Min, chairman of the
Government Parliamentary Committee
(GPC) for Health, said that Singaporeans
needed to be more socially responsible
and refrain from going to public or crowd-
ed places when they were unwell.
Dr Fatimah Lateef, the GPC’s deputy
chairman, added that since it was impossi-
ble to restrict travel, people had to be
“responsible and vigilant” when return-
ing home, especially if they were coming
from affected countries.
“Every one of us has a role to play in a
global crisis situation, and we can’t take
things for granted, especially when we
see how easily diseases spread,” she said.
MOH reminded the public not to trav-
el if they were unwell – an advisory also
issued by the World Health Organisation,
which recently declared H1N1 a pandem-
ic. Since the virus popped up more than a
month ago, there have been about
36,000 confirmed cases in 76 countries,
including 163 deaths.
The MOH also added several coun-
tries, including Thailand, the Philippines
and the United Kingdom, to its list of
affected areas yesterday.
The Ministry of Manpower also
advised companies that hire workers
from countries with community transmis-
sions to take precautions for both new
and returning employees.
These include minimising their con-
tact with others for a week by housing
them separately and monitoring them
closely for any flu symptoms.
benjamin@sph.com.sg
kimspyke@sph.com.sg
쐽 Total number of cases: 49
Imported: Australia (25), the United
States (16), the Philippines (5),
Thailand (1), Canada (1).
Locally transmitted: 1
Discharged: 22
쐽 List of affected areas: Argentina,
Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan,
Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Panama, the Philippines, Spain,
Thailand, United Kingdom, United
States.
쐽 MOH’s advice to travellers
returning from these areas:
If you develop flu symptoms
within seven days of returning
home, call 993 for an ambulance
and avoid taking public transport.
Flu symptoms include a high
fever of more than 38 deg C, a sore
throat, cough, body aches, a runny
nose and headaches.
To help in contact tracing, keep
records of your movement for
seven days after your return.

Schools making plans

to minimise risks
BY LEOW SI WAN, schools such as Bukit Panjang Govern-
CHERYL ONG ment High School and Boon Lay Second-
& JALELAH ABU BAKER ary School.
Schools said that any child who has
not been to an affected country but is fe-
SOME schools are asking staff and stu- verish will have his or her parents called
dents who have travelled to flu-affected to take the child to a doctor. Suspected
countries during the June holidays not to H1N1 cases will be sent to hospital via the
attend classes within seven days of return- 993 ambulance.
ing home. Some schools, such as St Hilda’s Sec-
Eleven schools told The Straits Times ondary, said they would carry out contact
that this was a precautionary measure tracing and would disinfect areas like the
they were taking against an outbreak of classroom and common areas if any of
the Influenza A their students were
(H1N1) virus when the
holidays end in less 쏆 found to have H1N1.
Mr Ong Kim Soon,
than two weeks. principal of St Hilda’s,
Last week, two
teenage girls who did
PLAYING IT SAFE said if the school had a
confirmed case, it
not know they were would ask close con-
infected attended holi- “We will play it by ear. tacts of the student to
day activities and Our intention is to stay home and moni-
classes in school be- tor their health for the
fore they were diag- minimise the chances of next seven days while
nosed.
Schools are now
the virus spreading at a the school awaited the
Health Ministry’s as-
taking no chances and mass gathering.” sessment of the case.
have geared up to Bedok North Sec-
keep the flu virus out- Mr Loke Chee Pheng, principal of ondary and Raffles In-
side their gates. Marsiling Secondary, which, like
stitution (Junior Col- Preschoolers Jolyn Wong and Lee Boon Wee (right), both six, are “hygiene ambassadors” at Learning Vision @ Cecil, the first preschool to receive its
Last week, the some other schools, will cancel lege), which the infect-
World Health Organi- assemblies for now Singapore’s OK label yesterday. Their duties include maintaining a toilet hygiene checklist. ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
ed students attended,
sation declared a pan- said they have washed
demic of H1N1. PLANNING IT WELL ing was the first preschool to receive its
Preschools striving for
and disinfected the rel-
Countries with sus- evant areas. Singapore’s OK decal yesterday.
tained community A spokesman for At the event, Minister of State for
transmission or ex- “If schools close for just the latter school said Community Development, Youth and
ported cases are Ar- a short while, there is
gentina, Australia,
Canada, Chile, the Do- no harm...But if there is
minican Republic, Ja- a crucial exam, schools
the other students in
the girl’s remedial
class have been told to
stay home for a week.
Singapore’s OK label Sports Yu-Foo Yee Shoon said preschools
already have in place measures to keep
hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) at
bay, and many of these measures – such
pan, Mexico, Panama, The patient, now at as temperature-taking – also apply to
the Philippines, must have well-prepared Tan Tock Seng Hospi- BY ANG YIYING With the preschool sector, the Nation-
dealing with H1N1.
Spain, Thailand, the contingency plans.” al Environment Agency (NEA) will assess Other measures that Learning Vision
tal, “is doing well”.
United Kingdom and SOME preschools are taking extra meas- those that want to participate on certain centres are taking during this period in-
The Education Min-
the United States. Madam Josephine Liaw, a mother of istry said it did not an- ures to keep their premises hygienic so as criteria. Some go beyond the basic levels clude distributing personal thermometers
Some schools, two secondary school students ticipate any necessity to keep their children healthy. of hygiene, such as having a programme to the children, making parents declare
such as Nan Hua Pri- to close schools but if A first batch of 27 preschools have to teach children good toilet and personal their travel history and limiting parents
mary and Marsiling it did, the schools are attained the “Singapore’s OK” status – a hygiene practices. from going into centres.
Secondary, will also ready to implement home-based learn- voluntary programme where recipients NEA will do a re-assessment a year lat- Other childcare centres also said they
cancel assemblies for now. ing. maintain high standards of hygiene. er, but the ministries that license or regis- had followed advisories from the MCYS,
Said Marsiling Secondary’s principal Said Madam Josephine Liaw, 44, a ter these pre-schools will conduct rou- like getting staff and children’s families
Another 91 preschools have promised
Loke Chee Pheng: “We will play it by ear. tine checks to ensure standards are kept. to complete travel declaration forms.
mother of two secondary school stu- to come on board.
Our intention is to minimise the chances Parents said knowing that their child’s
of the virus spreading at a mass gather- dents: “If schools close for just a short The campaign was revived last month, Of the 1,255 preschools here, 500
preschool had obtained the Singapore’s
ing.” while, there is no harm...But if there is a soon after the spread of the Influenza A kindergartens are registered with the OK status gave them peace of mind,
Elias Park Primary School will set crucial exam, schools must have well-pre- (H1N1) flu virus first started. Ministry of Education and 755 childcare especially because of the H1N1 flu.
aside an unused classroom for students pared contingency plans. Initially, it began with hawker centres, centres are licensed by the Ministry of Administrative assistant Suzy Nelly
who are feeling unwell. “My kids are hoping for schools to markets, food stalls and public toilets. As Community Development, Youth and Yusoff, 33, whose 20-month-old son
Temperature screening stations have close though. My elder son jokingly said of Monday, 10,800 such places have been Sports (MCYS). attends a Learning Vision childcare cen-
been set up at the main entrances of he would have a party if that happened.” awarded the Singapore’s OK label. Learning Vision @ Cecil in Aviva Build- tre, said: “I feel much more relieved.”

Girl, 12, dies a day Two more malaria cases – both

after developing fever
BY KIMBERLY SPYKERMAN
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl died of
breathing difficulties barely a day
after she came down with a fever
on Sunday evening.
Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong was
found slumped on a sofa by her
13-year-old brother in the
family’s flat in Upper Boon Keng
Road on Monday afternoon. She
was pale, semi-conscious and
clutching her chest, having trou-
ble breathing.
Panic-stricken, he called for
an ambulance, which arrived min-
utes later. But Yong was already
unconscious and died in Tan
Tock Seng Hospital shortly after.
Her family is still grappling
with her death as she had no
known health problems or
allergies. She was born with
thalassemia minor – a genetic
blood disorder – but did not
require any medication.
Said her mother, Madam Chia
Quee Mooi, 50, a sales promoter:
“We didn’t think there was any
reason to worry because we
thought she had an ordinary fever
and would take at least two to
three days to recover.”
Yong first became unwell on
Sunday morning after spending
the night at her grandmother’s
flat in Sembawang. She was tak-
en to a clinic at Sembawang MRT
station after she vomited and had
developed a high fever.
She was given two kinds of
medicine for the fever – antibiot-
ics and a powder meant to stop
the vomiting, according to her
eldest brother, 20.
That night, at home, she
seemed better, her mother said,
although drowsy and slightly list-
less. Madam Chia said she kept a
close watch on Yong that night,
sponging her with a wet cloth to
try and bring down the fever.
It seemed to work, as Yong’s
fever broke the next morning.
She was able to eat some food
before taking her medicine. Be-
fore Madam Chia left for work,
she reminded Yong to take her
next dose of medicine at 1pm.
Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong had no
known health problems. She was born
with thalassemia minor, but required
no medication. PHOTO: SHIN MIN
Yong was found by her brother
at about 1.30pm, a pool of vomit
next to her. On a side table were
her medicine, an empty glass that
she used for the powdered
mixture, a damp towel and a
thermometer with a 38.9 deg C
reading.
Said Madam Chia: “We still
don’t know how this could have
happened. She was always such a
good girl. She never made a fuss
even though she was sick.”
The family have handed over
her medication to the police, who
are investigating.
linked to Sungei Kadut cluster
BY SALMA KHALIK
& JALELAH ABU BAKER
ANOTHER two people are down
with malaria, bringing the
current outbreak to 19 locally
transmitted cases.
One is a 33-year-old shipyard
worker from India, who became
ill on June 1. He is still in Alexan-
dra Hospital.
The other is a Malaysian
mechanic, 37, whose symptoms
surfaced on June 10. He was
discharged on Monday.
The Ministry of Health (MOH)
said both were likely to have been
infected in Sungei Kadut Avenue,
where one lives and the other
works.
So far, 13 people who live or
work in this area have been
infected. Their illness surfaced
over a four-week period from
May 16 to June 10.
The other six people, on
Jurong Island in the south-west,
were also infected locally. Their
illness became known between
May 3 and May 25.
Experts believe the two clus-
ters are not linked although, in
both cases, the malaria parasite
involved is the vivax, the most
common in this region of the five
types of malaria parasites.
Two of the victims are Singapo-
reans and the rest are foreign
workers.
MOH informed the National
Environment Agency (NEA) of
the transmissions on May 25 for
Jurong Island, and on May 29 for
the Mandai/Sungei Kadut area.
Dozens of NEA workers
descended on these places the
day after they were told, to fog,
check for mosquito breeding and
trap adult anopheles mosquitoes.
While the number of cases is
small compared with the
hundreds of people who get
dengue each month, it is signifi-
cant because Singapore has been
malaria-free for 27 years.
The symptoms of malaria are
fever, headache, chills and vomit-
ing. If left untreated, malaria
could lead to seizures and death.
The NEA spokesman said that
its officers appear to have success-
fully eradicated the anopheles
mosquitoes from the two areas,
as none has been found recently.
Patients being diagnosed now
were probably infected before the
NEA moved in, as it takes 12 to 18
days for symptoms to appear.
However, the outbreak can be
declared over only if there are no
new cases on Jurong Island by
July 1 and in the north by July 4.
A worker who lives in Sungei
Kadut, Mr Rafiqul Islam, 26, said
yesterday that it was not just the
NEA which had been hard at
work.
“The kitchen and toilets used
to be dusty, but the cleaners here
are now cleaning them more
often. We’ve also learnt to pour
away any water left in the pans in
the kitchen,” he said.