No human swine flu in S'pore but docs told to be on the lookout
By Lau Joon-Nie, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 25 April 2009 2159 hrs


SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) says there are currently no known cases of human swine flu in Singapore. The MOH has alerted all local doctors and healthcare institutions to be vigilant for any suspect cases during this period. While there are currently no travel restrictions or quarantine advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for swine flu, MOH has advised those travelling to Mexico, Southern California and Texas to take precautions such as avoiding crowded places, people with flu symptoms and washing one's hands regularly. Anyone developing swine flu symptoms within a week of travelling to these places should seek immediate medical attention. In its list of frequently asked questions, MOH says swine flu spreads to humans mainly through contact with infected pigs, but limited human-to-human transmission can also occur in the same way seasonal flu occurs in people. The symptoms are similar to regular human seasonal influenza - high fever in the early stages followed by cough, sore throat, runny nose and sometimes breathlessness a few days later. MOH says it maintains a comprehensive, well-established disease surveillance system for early detection of human cases with novel influenzas such as swine flu. If the situation warrants, MOH will step up public health measures such as quarantine of contacts, issue public health advisories and work with other government agencies to screen visitors at border checkpoints. It also has an influenza pandemic preparedness plan. The MOH adds that there is currently no evidence to suggest that swine flu can be transmitted to humans from eating pork or pork products that have been thoroughly cooked.


7:52 AM