Influenza A (H1N1) Latest News Updates

last SG · 2009-04-30T00:09:04+00:00

Two year old dies after tested positive for H1N1SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating the death of a two-year-old child who tested positiv...

QX179R SG

Health Minister says S'pore is in last leg of battle against H1N1

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Saturday said the nation is in the final leg of its battle against the H1N1 flu virus.

He said Singaporeans have fought off the virus well by being well-informed and complying with precautionary measures.

Mr Khaw said studies have shown that the virus seems to be getting weaker as time goes by.

However, he stressed that there is still a chance it may mutate and get deadlier.

The Minister also said there are bound to be complicated cases, with some possibly resulting in death.

Speaking at a health event, Mr Khaw highlighted the priorities his Ministry is now focusing on, besides high risk groups.

Said Minister Khaw: "We're taking a pause and reflecting on what have we learnt in the last three months, what are the lessons. So we're doing a post mortem on how we have reacted to this first wave, to learn from it, where can we do better? (Another priority) is to prepare for the next wave. Of course we hope there's no next wave, but we can't tell."

As of Friday, there were 60 H1N1 flu cases in hospital, including one in intensive care.

- 938Live

QX179R SG

Schools to resume CCA programmes next week with H1N1 precautions

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education said schools will resume co-curricular activities (CCAs) next week.

It said schools will also take precautions such as temperature-taking and visual screening for flu-like symptoms at the start of sessions.

The ministry said some schools have already resumed CCAs to allow students to train for sports meets or to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Youth Festival.

Life is almost back to normal at Rulang Primary, except that students still have to go through mandatory temperature checks. All co-curricular activities have resumed after being suspended for the last two weeks as an H1N1 precaution.

Low Min Chye, vice principal, Rulang Primary School, said: "CCAs are an important part of our school curriculum. So this is the reason why we decided to resume, but measures are taken such as CCA groups are kept to a small group and very importantly the pupils are kept together for a maximum of 45 minutes."

Besides this, Channel NewsAsia understands that ministry guidelines also state that where possible, students should avoid close contact and be at least two metres apart.

As a precaution, at least one secondary school is known to have stopped one-on-one counselling sessions to minimise close contact.

Over at Republic Polytechnic, a rule restricting students to certain canteens has left some students disgruntled. So the school has decided to ease up a little on that ruling, but said it is in a unique situation where being over-cautious is important.

Ang Keng Loo, senior director, Student Affairs, said: "We don't have a lecture theatre system where everybody sits there and listens. We have groups of students discussing actively throughout the whole day and the amount of interaction they go through, should there be a person who is infected in that group, the transmission is almost like 100 per cent."

One of the reasons for Republic Polytechnic's stricter rules is because of the initial rapid spread of the H1N1 virus among students. 105 students have been infected so far. 97 have recovered.

Latest figures from the Health Ministry show that there are currently 49 H1N1 patients in Singapore hospitals, including a 51-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension in intensive care.

- CNA/vm

QX179R SG

46 H1N1 patients in hospital, one still in ICU

SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry says there are currently 46 confirmed H1N1 cases in hospital.

Fifteen of them are warded at the National University Hospital, while 11 are at Changi General Hospital.

They include a 51-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension who is warded at Changi General Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. He was previously in a critical condition but is now stable.

- CNA/ir

QX179R SG

Fully licensed H1N1 flu vaccine not available till end of the year: WHO

The World Health Organization says a fully licensed H1N1 flu vaccine will not be available until the end of the year.

And this will impact many countries' vaccination plans.

A fully licensed vaccine requires thorough and conclusive testing.

H1N1 flu vaccines are expected to be available for clinical trials in the next couple of months.

But this will take even more time, as each country's regulatory authority must vet them for safety issues.

However, Ms Kieny says countries can use emergency provisions to get the vaccines out faster, if they decide their populations need them.

This could mean using preliminary information to determine whether a vaccine is safe to use.

But she warned that in this scenario, it will be key to increase post-marketing surveillance to detect potential side effects.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Two more patients in intensive care after contracting H1N1

SINGAPORE: Two more patients are now under intensive care after contracting H1N1.

The first is a 45-year-old woman with multiple health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. She was also on immunosuppressants due to a kidney transplant in 2006.

She had sought treatment at the Singapore General Hospital's emergency department on July 4 after two days of vomiting and diarrhoea, and is now in critical condition.

The second patient is a 22-year-old woman who is 24 weeks pregnant. She was admitted to KK Women's and Children's Hospital on Monday after she developed pneumonia and was tested positive for H1N1 at a private hospital.

On Tuesday, she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for closer monitoring as her requirement for oxygen had increased. She has no underlying medical conditions.

There are 48 other H1N1 patients warded at various public hospitals, including a 51-year-old patient with diabetes and hypertension. The latter is in a stable condition at Changi General Hospital's ICU.

- CNA/so

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE'S first critically-ill Influenza A (H1N1) patient has been discharged from hospital and wants to make sure he remains healthy.

Part-time cleaner Omar Mohamed Salleh, 63, ended his seven-day stay at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on Saturday evening.

When The Straits Times visited Mr Omar at his Woodlands home on Tuesday, he was cracking jokes, while his wife and son teased him fondly. A far cry from just a week ago when the mood was sombre, his worried family members pacing the hospital floors.

--ST

lianamaster SG

Now MOH don't keep track on the number of cases.... too many?

QX179R SG

H1N1 patient in critical condition

A 49 year-old man who tested positive for Influenza A H1N1 today is currently in critical condition.

He was admitted to ICU after seeking treatment at the Changi General Hospital this morning.

A Health Ministry statement said the patient developed flu-like symptoms 4 days ago, including severe pneumonia.

In addition, he has a history of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Also in ICU are two other female H1N1 patients.

However, both are in stable condition.

There are 36 confirmed H1N1 cases in hospitals today.

--938Live

QX179R SG

44 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in hospitals, including 3 in ICU

SINGAPORE : There are now 44 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in hospitals in Singapore, including three in intensive care.

The 49-year-old male patient with multiple health problems, who was admitted to the Changi General Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) on Thursday, is in a critical but stable condition, according to the Health Ministry.

The other two female patients at Singapore General Hospital and KK Women's and Children's Hospital, including a 22-year-old pregnant woman, are still in ICU.

Both are stable.

- CNA/ms

lianamaster SG

Finally, the numbers are dropping.

QX179R SG

Singapore confirms first H1N1-related death

SINGAPORE: A 49-year-old H1N1 patient, with multiple health problems, died on Saturday afternoon. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement that he died of a heart attack, contributed by severe pneumonia and H1N1 infection.

The victim, who had diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, was admitted to Changi General Hospital on July 16 after four days of flu-like symptoms.

MOH added that a 55-year-old man, also with multiple health problems, is the latest H1N1 patient to be admitted to intensive care.

He was tested positive for H1N1 after being admitted into Singapore General Hospital's (SGH) intensive care unit.

He went to SGH on July 17, complaining of shortness of breath and fever, and was admitted after investigations showed that he had suffered an acute heart attack. The patient is currently in stable condition.

MOH said while the majority of H1N1 cases remains mild, the virus can cause complications and even death in high-risk individuals with underlying medical conditions.

Individuals in the high-risk group are advised to seek prompt medical attention if they suffer flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose.

Members of the public who develop influenza-like illness can visit their nearest Pandemic Preparedness Clinic or their GP clinics for initial assessment and treatment.

If symptoms are severe, such as breathlessness and chest pains, members of the public are advised to call 995 immediately for an emergency ambulance.

- CNA/so

Chew Bakar SG

1st death, hope the situation don't worsen.

QX179R SG

Bodies of H1N1 victims to be buried or cremated within 7 days

SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry has called on all approved undertakers to handle with care the bodies of those who died from the H1N1 virus.

Funeral wakes can only be held within seven days for embalmed bodies. Non-embalmed ones have to buried or cremated within three days.

Loved ones are also not to touch the bodies, even though the chances of contracting the virus that way is low.

Undertakers have also been told to avoid all direct contact with blood or other fluids from the bodies.

Undertakers who have open wounds or skin infections are not to handle the body.

Families have to wear masks when claiming the bodies and performing religious rites.

Coffins of embalmed bodies have to be sealed at all times.

Families and friends must also wash their hands with soap after viewing.

Funeral service providers said these measures are relatively milder compared to those who died from SARS, when their bodies had to be cremated almost immediately.

- CNA/yb

limpper SG

got ppl die from it alr? i din know that...

Merczrox SG

I heard in my school that singapore is waiting for a person to die from H1N1 until they would close down all the schools.So now since 1 person has died from it,wat are they waiting for?Or are they waiting for more people to die from it be4 they would close down all the schools?

Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1) SG

NO , dun ever close down school, coz i dun wan N Level too postponed

mercz, u dun wan ur N Level too postponed?

QX179R SG

34-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukaemia tests positive for H1N1

SINGAPORE: A 34-year-old woman suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Singapore's Health Ministry said Sunday the patient was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital last Friday after two days of cough.

She was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Sunday for closer monitoring as her requirement for oxygen increased.

There are two other H1N1 patients still in SGH's ICU. Both are in stable condition.

A 22-year-old pregnant woman, who was admitted to KK Women's and Children's Hospital last Tuesday, has moved out of intensive care.

- CNA/yb

QX179R SG

53% of flu cases in Singapore are H1N1 positive

SINGAPORE: More than half of flu cases here (53%) are H1N1 positive. The number jumped from just 13 per cent in a span of only four weeks.

The latest data by Singapore's Health Ministry shows that the country is well past the mitigation stage for the management of H1N1 flu cases.

Giving an update in Parliament on Monday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the virus circulating in Singapore currently is largely benign, with almost all patients recovering fully.

He added Singapore remains in Yellow alert because unlike seasonal flu, the at-risk groups involve younger adults with underlying medical problems.

Moving forward, Mr Khaw said H1N1 prevalence in the country should peak within a week or two.

He said more Singaporeans will get infected, reaching a peak before the numbers start to decline as in New York where the wave peaked in May and June.

Experts refer to this phenomenon as the community acquiring "herd immunity".

Mr Khaw said temperature taking in schools should step down from next month.

Army camps will also step down their H1N1 control measures according to their specific operational needs.

Hospitals, though, will remain on high vigilance. Visitation will continue to be discouraged and infection control measures will remain.

Mr Khaw also outlined three key priorities.

MOH will focus on high-risk patients and encouraging them to come forward promptly and not wait until their symptoms become too severe.

The ministry will also review its control measures and prepare Singapore for the next wave of H1N1 which may come when winter returns to the Northern hemisphere.

As for the managing of patients, Mr Khaw said doctors will treat them clinically rather than send every suspected H1N1 case for lab tests.

Most patients are being treated by GPs as outpatients and hospitalisation is the exception, only for high-risk cases.

Likewise, travel advisory, temperature screening at airports, contact tracing and home quarantine measures have been largely stepped down.

The 993 ambulance service for H1N1 suspected cases will also be wound up from Tuesday. Callers will hear an automated message telling them to visit their nearest GP or Pandemic Preparedness Clinic if the symptoms are mild or to call 995 if they have severe symptoms.

While the government has put in place orders for a H1N1 vaccine once it is available, Mr Khaw pointed out that the most basic strategy is maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene.

- CNA/ir

QX179R SG

H1NI cases: Two high risk patients sought treatment days after showing symptoms

Two patients in the high risk groups who are now in critical condition after contracting H1N1, sought treatment days after developing flu like symptoms.

According to the health ministry, these are the latest H1N1 cases to be admitted to the intensive care units.

One of them is a 55 year old man who suffers from motor neuron disease.

He sought treatment at the Changi General Hospital on Saturday, after two days of fever and increasing shortness of breath.

MOH says the man suffered a cardiac arrest at the emergency department of CGH and was immediately admitted to the ICU.

Laboratory tests show that he is infected with Influenza A H1N1.

Another H1N1 patient who is also in critical condition is a 42 year old woman who has hypertension and thyroid disease.

She went to the CGH only after 5 days of fever, sore throat and shortness of breath and was admitted to the ICU immediately.

According to MOH there are currently 64 H1N1 patients hospitalised.

Of this number, 5 are in the ICU.

Other than the two mentioned earlier, the other three are in stable condition.

MOH urges those in the high risk groups to seek treatment early should they develop flu like symptoms.

--938Live

QX179R SG

3 more patients admitted to ICU with H1N1, 2 in critical condition

SINGAPORE: Three more patients have been admitted to the Intensive Care Units after coming down with H1N1 infections. Two are in critical condition.

One is a 51-year-old woman who has asthma. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said she sought treatment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Monday after two days of fever and breathlessness. She was admitted to the ICU on the same day as her condition worsened.

The other is a 13-year-old boy with epilepsy. He went to National University Hospital's (NUH's) emergency department on Sunday after a day of cough and fever.

He suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while at the emergency department and was admitted to NUH's Paediatric ICU.

Another patient admitted to ICU is a 46-year-old foreigner with hypertension, and is on dialysis. She went to Mount Elizabeth Hospital on Sunday after a week of fever and sore throat.

She was admitted and transferred to the hospital's ICU on Monday when she became breathless. She is currently in stable condition.

Two patients - a 55-year-old man suffering from motor neuron disease and a 42-year-old woman with multiple health problems - who were admitted to Changi General Hospital's ICU on July 18 remain in critical condition.

Three other patients in Singapore General Hospital's ICU are in stable condition.

MOH said there are now 77 patients in hospital with H1N1 infections. It has urged those in high-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms to seek medical treatment early.

- CNA/vm

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