Singapore will be pro-active in handling possible swine flu outbreak

Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia 26 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: Singapore will take a pro-active stance should the threat of a flu pandemic surface following the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan also said the SARS epidemic has equipped Singapore with the skills to handle a similar outbreak.

Speaking to reporters at a community event on Sunday, Mr Khaw said the ability of the swine flu virus to spread from human to human makes it especially dangerous, and his ministry is monitoring the situation.

As for the virus spreading to the US, Mr Khaw said it could pose a global threat as the US is well-connected to the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement it will implement precautionary measures at Changi Airport in light of the outbreak.

From 11pm Sunday, thermal scanners will be deployed to screen passengers on flights arriving from the US. And from 8am Monday, scanners will be deployed at all three arrival halls to screen all arriving passengers.

From Wednesday, scanners will also be deployed at the Budget Terminal and Seletar Airport.

CAAS added that flights in and out of Changi Airport are continuing as normal.

Separately, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a statement that there is no danger of people contracting swine flu from eating pork or pork products.

All pork imports are being tested for the new strain of swine flu virus as a precautionary measure, it added.

Singapore does not import pork from Mexico. But since the beginning of this year, 2,700 tons or 10 per cent of total imports of frozen pork and other pork products have been imported from the US.

No chilled pork has been imported from the US. Singapore only imports processed pork products from the affected US states of California, Texas and Kansas. But AVA said properly heated processed products do not pose a risk of swine flu virus.

Singapore only imports pigs from one AVA-accredited farm located on Pulau Bulan, Indonesia. There has been no introduction of pigs from external sources into the farm.

AVA also inspects the farm regularly to ensure biosecurity measures are implemented. On-farm disease situation as well as the health of the pigs imported from the farm into Singapore are also closely monitored.

Other high-level biosecurity measures include strict access of people into the farm, as well as rigorous hygiene and sanitation practices. Pigs in the farm are also regularly vaccinated against swine influenza.

As for pig lungs - the major target organ in an animal infected by swine flu - AVA said there have been no import of pig lungs into Singapore from any country in the last three years.- CNA/ir

Scanners at the airport
Neo Chai Chin, Today Online 27 Apr 09;

THERE are no known cases of swine flu in Singapore, but preventive measures have already kicked in at Changi Airport.

From 11pm yesterday, thermal scanners were deployed to screen passengers arriving from the United States. And from 8am today, all passengers arriving at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 will also have to undergo thermal scans just before their immigration checks. Those arriving at the Budget Terminal and Seletar Airport will have to do so from Wednesday, said the Health Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in a joint statement last night.

Those with higher-than-normal temperatures will be put through further medical assessments.

Speaking to the media after a block visit in Woodlands yesterday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said it is too early to close our borders as this will affect the economy and food supply.

However, given the US’ connectedness with the rest of the world, he warned it could be a matter of hours before swine flu reaches Singapore, hence the high level of alertness.

The Ministry has also advised Singaporeans to postpone or avoid non-essential travel to Mexico.

Those who develop flu-like symptoms including high fever, cough, and runny nose within seven days of travel to California, Texas or Kansas in the United States, or to Mexico, should seek medical attention.

So far, the World Health Organization does not consider a human swine flu pandemic to be imminent — the outbreak in Mexico and the US, however, constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

And although humans cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority will be testing incoming pork products for the flu virus.

It will also step up surveillance testing of pigs from Pulau Bulan in Indonesia — Singapore’s only source of live pigs — to ensure they are not infected with the virus behind the current outbreak.

Singapore does not import pork from Mexico, nor does it import pigs from the US.

Khaw: Play safe, assume the worst
Neo Chai Chin, Today Online 27 Apr 09;

His ministry is working “round the clock” to stay abreast of swine flu developments around the world. And Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday sounded a reassuring note, saying the nation is in a better position to deal with a global pandemic compared to six years ago when Sars hit.

Back then, 33 people here died from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Since then, progress has been made in laboratory capabilities and as well as alertness levels at hospitals and airports.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is also looking at restricting the number of visitors for hospital patients — if developments over the next two days warrants it.

“As a general principal, if you don’t have to visit hospitals, don’t visit because it’s not exactly a clean place. Why expose yourself unnecessarily?” said Mr Khaw.

Those who need to visit loved ones should maintain a high level of personal hygiene including frequent hand-washing.

Singapore also has a stockpile of Tamiflu — one of the antiviral drugs found to be effective against the swine flu virus — as well as personal protective equipment for hospital staff, he said.

MOH is likely to request hospital staff working in high-risk areas such as accident and emergency (A&E) wards and intensive care units to wear the personal protective equipment.

At least one hospital has already taken the initiative. Since Saturday, National University Hospital staff at the A&E temperature screening area have put on protective gowns in addition to the face mask routinely worn.

NUH and the Singapore General Hospital said patients are also asked about their travel histories. “Patients ... with travel history to Mexico, USA and Canada will be asked to alert our staff. Visitors with travel history and who are feeling unwell are advised not to visit patients, and to seek medical attention,” said SGH chief executive Prof Ang Chong Lye.

Indeed, disclosure of travel history becomes “very important”, said Mr Khaw, given how swine flu symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat are similar to that of regular flu.

And while the swine flu outbreak could be “just a very localised” one that will “eventually burn itself out”, Mr Khaw said Singapore will “play safe and assume the worst.”