<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published April 30, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>SWINE FLU
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Singapore ready to tackle infection, says Kan Seng
Even so, citizens should stay vigilant, maintain high level of personal hygiene
By CHEN HUIFEN
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(SINGAPORE) The Republic is better prepared to face swine flu because of the lessons learned from Sars, but people should keep their guard up and act to minimise possible transmission, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.
'Our ability to respond effectively will depend on the extent to which we can get cooperation - from not just the people, but the public and private sectors, particularly employers and companies, and more so among the essential services,' he said.
'Businesses essential to our survival must make sure they have continuity plans in case some staff get infected. In other words, they have to have people on standby, ready to take over, and take the necessary measures to make sure staff do not cross-infect one another.'
Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister and leads the Home Front Crisis Ministerial Committee, was speaking at a media briefing on the status of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak. The government is taking the infectious disease very seriously and deploying all resources to manage the virus, should it reach Singapore, he said.
So far, 17 people have been referred for testing. Fourteen have tested negative and results on the other three are pending.
Being an open economy, Singapore could be hit by the virus. And if that happens, it could be harder to contain than Sars because of several factors.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>For one, the swine flu virus is more contagious, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.
'Look at how it has spread over half the world to several countries, and the speed of the spread,' he said.
'Second, unlike Sars, people can be infectious before symptoms appear, which means border control cannot be fool-proof.'
The situation is further complicated by the historical trend of flu pandemics hitting in waves, he said. Singapore must be prepared for a drawn-out battle, though he stopped short of saying how long the 'new war' will last.
The good news is that government agencies, hospitals and scientists are much more networked now, with the World Health Organization providing sound leadership. Scientists have also shared the genome sequence of the virus, allowing researchers to update test kits and start work on a vaccine.
Mr Khaw said that Singapore has a stockpile of almost 1.2 million courses of Tamiflu and Relenza, so there is no need for individuals to buy their own. The two drugs appear to be effective in treating swine flu if it is detected early.
Mr Khaw urged people to be vigilant and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. If they have flu symptoms, they should act responsibly, visit a doctor and stay at home.
'The bottom line is, this is a very dynamic situation,' he said. 'But it does not mean that a global pandemic with very high death rate, as happened 90 years ago, is inevitable.
'It may happen. Then again, it may not. A lot depends on how the world responds to it. I think if countries and their people work hard together, cooperate and do what is right, we may be able to reduce the casualties and fatalities.'
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>SWINE FLU
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Singapore ready to tackle infection, says Kan Seng
Even so, citizens should stay vigilant, maintain high level of personal hygiene
By CHEN HUIFEN
<TABLE class=storyLinks cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD align=right width=20>
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</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(SINGAPORE) The Republic is better prepared to face swine flu because of the lessons learned from Sars, but people should keep their guard up and act to minimise possible transmission, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.
'Our ability to respond effectively will depend on the extent to which we can get cooperation - from not just the people, but the public and private sectors, particularly employers and companies, and more so among the essential services,' he said.
'Businesses essential to our survival must make sure they have continuity plans in case some staff get infected. In other words, they have to have people on standby, ready to take over, and take the necessary measures to make sure staff do not cross-infect one another.'
Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister and leads the Home Front Crisis Ministerial Committee, was speaking at a media briefing on the status of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak. The government is taking the infectious disease very seriously and deploying all resources to manage the virus, should it reach Singapore, he said.
So far, 17 people have been referred for testing. Fourteen have tested negative and results on the other three are pending.
Being an open economy, Singapore could be hit by the virus. And if that happens, it could be harder to contain than Sars because of several factors.
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'Look at how it has spread over half the world to several countries, and the speed of the spread,' he said.
'Second, unlike Sars, people can be infectious before symptoms appear, which means border control cannot be fool-proof.'
The situation is further complicated by the historical trend of flu pandemics hitting in waves, he said. Singapore must be prepared for a drawn-out battle, though he stopped short of saying how long the 'new war' will last.
The good news is that government agencies, hospitals and scientists are much more networked now, with the World Health Organization providing sound leadership. Scientists have also shared the genome sequence of the virus, allowing researchers to update test kits and start work on a vaccine.
Mr Khaw said that Singapore has a stockpile of almost 1.2 million courses of Tamiflu and Relenza, so there is no need for individuals to buy their own. The two drugs appear to be effective in treating swine flu if it is detected early.
Mr Khaw urged people to be vigilant and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. If they have flu symptoms, they should act responsibly, visit a doctor and stay at home.
'The bottom line is, this is a very dynamic situation,' he said. 'But it does not mean that a global pandemic with very high death rate, as happened 90 years ago, is inevitable.
'It may happen. Then again, it may not. A lot depends on how the world responds to it. I think if countries and their people work hard together, cooperate and do what is right, we may be able to reduce the casualties and fatalities.'
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