Update on SARS Cases in Singapore: Ministry of Health Press Release, 20 March 2003

Singapore Government Press Release

Media Relations Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts,

MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369

Tel: 6837-9666

UPDATE ON SARS CASES IN SINGAPORE

As at 20 March 03, a total of 34 people with SARS have been reported. The 3 additional patients reported today comprise 3 family members and friends of patients. Except for the 2 patients from the initial cohort who have since recovered and been discharged, the rest of the patients are still in hospital. All the patients are stable except for 5 patients who are in serious condition.

To date, apart from the 3 initial people who had travelled to Hong Kong, a total of 18 family and friends of cases, and 13 hospital staff have been diagnosed with SARS. So far, all the cases of SARS have been linked to the initial 3 cases. No new index cases have been reported. In addition, no further cases have occurred among health care workers after the implementation of enhanced infection control precautions.

The Ministry of Health would like to appeal to the public to avoid travel to Hong Kong, Hanoi and Guangdong province in China for the time being, unless absolutely necessary. This would help us greatly in our efforts to contain the number of new cases.

We also advise you to stay calm and continue with your daily routine. Though SARS is infectious, there is no need for alarm as your risk to SARS is low. WHO has reported that the disease is spread from person to person but only through close contact with an infected person. There is no evidence to date that the disease spreads through casual contact.

The Ministry would like to reiterate that you should seek immediate medical attention if you have:

Fever (more than 38 degree celsius) and respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty;

AND

have travelled to Hong Kong, Hanoi or Guangdong province in China, within 2 weeks of onset of the symptoms; or

are a close contact of persons diagnosed with SARS. (Close contact means having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS)

Unless you have the above symptoms and a similar travel history or personal contact with infected persons, the Ministry urges the public to seek the advice of a GP first and not go to the Communicable Disease Centre to avoid bogging down its resources.

Ministry of Health

20 March 2003

MOH Hotline for queries : 1800-2254122

Website : www.moh.gov.sg