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

2 more deaths bring H1N1-related fatalities in S'pore to 3

SINGAPORE: Two patients died on Wednesday, bringing the total number of H1N1-related deaths in Singapore to three.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said a 13-year-old boy, who was admitted to National University Hospital's Paediatric ICU on Sunday, died on Wednesday morning. He had epilepsy and the cause of death was due to prolonged seizures, with H1N1 as a contributing factor.

The second H1N1-related death on Wednesday was a 55-year-old man. He was admitted to Changi General Hospital's ICU last Saturday. The MOH said the cause of his death was severe pneumonia with advanced motor neuron disease and underlying H1N1.

Singapore's first H1N1-related death was a 49-year-old man with severe heart disease and multiple health problems. He died from a heart attack with H1N1 infection on July 18.

Meanwhile, one more H1N1 patient was admitted into ICU on Wednesday. She is a 42-year-old foreigner with a history of hypertension and who is overweight.

She sought treatment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Emergency Department, after suffering three days of shortness of breath. She was found to have low oxygen saturation and low blood pressure.

The MOH has been reminding people in the high-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms to seek medical treatment early.

Elsewhere, a 42-year-old woman with hypertension and thyroid disease - who was admitted to Changi General Hospital's ICU on July 18 - remains in critical condition.

A 46-year-old foreigner with hypertension and kidney disease on dialysis, who was admitted to Mount Elizabeth's ICU on July 20, is in stable condition.

Also in stable condition is a 51-year-old woman with asthma. She was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital's ICU on July 20.

Of the three patients in Singapore General Hospital's ICU, one has been transferred to the general ward. The other two who are still in the ICU are in stable condition.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan had said more people in Singapore were expected to be infected with H1N1 as the transmission peaks within the next one to two weeks.

Recent data showed that more than half of all flu cases in Singapore were H1N1 positive.

- CNA/ir

Chew Bakar SG

More than half is H1N1 now, so easy to catch.

QX179R SG

MOH sets aside 10 million to fund H1N1 research

The Health Ministry says it will set aside 10 million dollars to tackle the H-1-N-1 virus.

This is a grant given out by the Ministry to fund H-1-N-1 research and related operational issues.

Speaking at the National Medical Excellence Awards ceremony, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said further research and clinical trials will help experts better understand the diseases.

"We hope emerging research in epidemiological studies, clinical trials and diagnostics can help us better understand the disease and prepare us for a second wave."

So far, the Ministry has received about 45 proposals from grant applicants.

Open to local hospitals and research institutes, the various projects will receive funding for about one to three years.

The Ministry said while it hasn't decided how many projects it will fund, the proposals should addresss a range of H1N1 related issues.

This include pattern and spread of the infection, disease progression, as well as complication rate in the population.

MOH said the grants are to be awarded latest by September.

Earlier, Mr Khaw also pointed out that the number of deaths resulting from H1N1 infections has gone up to three.

He noted that all three had underlying serious medical illnesses which he said, were probably the primary causes of their death.

Mr Khaw stressed that high-risk patients have to take extra precaution.

"I think just be extra careful during this period; avoid crowded places and if you have to leave home, just put on a surgical mask, it may just save your life."

--938Live

coldzero SG

My unit has just had one confirmed case of h1n1 and my superior has told me not to report to camp tomorrow and go polyclinic for h1n1 test.. May I know how fast will the results be out, including saturdays and sundays too? Will I be issued home quarantine before the result is out? And how efficient is polyclinic in dealing with h1n1? Because I've heard polyclinic doctors telling patients they are free from the virus and need not go for any test until they found out they are actually affected after results from private clinics.

QX179R SG

A 42-YEAR-OLD woman with hypertension and thyroid disease became the fourth victim to die from A (H1N1)-related infection on Friday, said the Ministry of Health.

The cause of death is pneumonia, with H1N1 as a contributing factor.

In a statement, MOH said the woman sought medical treatment at Changi General Hospital's (CGH) Emergency Department on July 18 after five days of fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.

She was transferred to the ICU on the same day. She died on Friday morning.

Two more H1N1 patients were admitted to intensive care units on Friday.

One is a 24-year-old man with no known risk factors. He sought treatment at Tan Tock Seng's Emergency Department on Thursday after one day of cough, headache and fever and was tested positive for H1N1. He is in a stable condition.

The other is a 28-year-old Indian female foreigner with no known risk factors. She sought treatment at CGH's Emergency Department on Thursday after four days of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

She was admitted to the ICU on the same day because of low oxygen saturation, and confirmed to have H1N1.

She is currently on a ventilator and is in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the 51-year-old woman with asthma admitted to TTSH's ICU on July 20 has been transferred to a general ward.

QX179R SG

3 more H1N1 patients admitted to ICU

SINGAPORE: Three more people were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Saturday after suffering from H1N1 infections.

The first is a 47—year—old man with a medical history of myasthenia gravis with a thymic tumour.

He was admitted for pneumonia after three days of fever and cough, and transferred to ICU because of low oxygen saturation. He is currently in a critical condition.

The second case is an 80—year—old woman with a history of hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and rheumatic heart disease. She was admitted after three days of fever and breathing difficulties. She is also currently in a critical condition.

The third case is a 51—year—old woman with a history of asthma, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipaedemia and ischaemic heart disease. After two days of fever, cough and breathing difficulties, she now faces respiratory failure, and is currently on a ventilator at the Changi General Hospital.

— CNA/ir

QX179R SG

Two more H1N1 flu patients admitted to ICU

SINGAPORE: Two more people were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Sunday after coming down with H1N1 flu infections.

The first is a 61-year-old man with heart problems. He had cough, sore throat and running nose for a week, and was transferred to ICU because of breathlessness.

He is currently on a ventilator and in a critical condition.

The second patient is a 14-year-old boy who has asthma and epilepsy. He was warded after two days of fever, and three seizures.

He is currently on a ventilator and in a critical condition. Earlier this week, a 13-year old boy with epilepsy died after being infected with H1N1 flu.

There are currently a total of 10 H1N1 flu patients in ICU.

- CNA/yt

lianamaster 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

Now, that's alarming.

QX179R SG

Fifth H1N1 patient dies

A fifth H1N1 patient in Singapore has died after developing complications.

The 34-year-old woman suffered from acute myeloid leukemia.

She was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on the 17th of this month after coughing for two days.

The woman was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit two days later.

It's believed the cause of death was pneumonia, with H1N1 as a contributing factor.

--938Live

lianamaster SG

QX179R SG

Two more H1N1 flu patients admitted to ICU

SINGAPORE: Two more patients have been admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with complications arising from H1N1 flu.

The first is a 45-year-old woman with a history of neuromuscular disease.

She went to the National University Hospital's Emergency Department on Monday with breathing difficulties and four-day history of fever.

She was later diagnosed with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure and is now on ventilator support.

The second patient is a 25-year-old woman with a history of asthma.

She sought treatment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Tuesday.

She had a three-day history of shortness of breath, cough and sore throat.

Laboratory tests confirmed both patients have Influenza A(H1N1).

There are now more than 100 people hospitalised in Singapore for H1N1 flu, and about 10 are in ICU.

Five people in Singapore have died from complications related to H1N1 flu.

- CNA/yt

QX179R SG

3 year old H1N1 boy in ICU

A 3 year old boy with a genetic disease has been admitted in the Intensive Care Unit after contracting H1N1.

He is the youngest H1N1 patient to be admitted to the ICU so far.

The Chinese boy who is now in KK Children's and Women's Hospital, is one of the three new ICU cases reported today.

The other two patients are - a 63 year old woman with stroke and heart disease and another 45 year old man with lung and heart problems.

According to the Health Ministry, there are currently 121 H1N1 patients in hospital.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Government resorts deactivated as H1N1 quarantine facilities

SINGAPORE: The three government resorts which were used as H1N1 quarantine centres were deactivated on Friday.

The three chalets are Aloha Resort at Loyang, the People's Association Holiday Flats and the HomeTeamNS chalets at Pasir Ris. They had been used to quarantine close contacts of H1N1 cases in Singapore since May.

A statement from the National Development Ministry said with the re-calibration of Singapore's strategy to deal with the spread of the H1N1 virus, the quarantine facilities are no longer needed and the resorts will be returned to their normal use.

However, the ministry added that the chalets can be quickly re-activated as quarantine facilities if the need arises.

In total, 281 persons – mainly foreign travellers – served their Home Quarantine Orders at the three facilities.

- CNA/so

funniegal SG

was sick on sun i think...sudden sick in the afternoon.. so mon me go see doc. while waiting..a whole bunch of boys were queeuing and see doc..*i was like*??? then i know 1 boy got 7 days MC...the rest range 2-3 days. hm..

As for me..i went there due to feel fever (but no fever through the nurse put the themometer on forehead) sore thoart and cough. doc gave me 3 days. i use oral themo 37.5 , the themo on forehead..bery [email protected]@

after 3 days..still cough..went back..cos i breath hard also.*got asthma*

kena 4 days mc.. *add up 7 days* *

now...medicine haven finish but still a bit coughing..dough!!..

but i was given tamiful... OH MINE..i heard from my sis, if after med..i ok..then kena H1N1..no medi can cure me? wat the hack

QX179R SG

1st H1N1 death with no known underlying medical condition

The H1N1 virus has claimed its first healthy victim here

The Health Ministry says except for being overweight, the 29-year-old Indian female who died is not known to have any other underlying medical conditions.

She was admitted to Changi General Hospital's emergency department on 25th July after she fainted that morning.

Before that she suffered flu-like symptoms for four days.

A day after admission, she was transferred to the ICU because of low oxygen saturation.

She died on Sunday morning and the cause of death, according MOH, is pneumonia with renal failure and H1N1 infection as a contributing factor.

She is the sixth H1N1-related death in Singapore.

--938Live

AEW5001 SG

1st H1N1 death with no known underlying medical condition

The H1N1 virus has claimed its first healthy victim here

The Health Ministry says except for being overweight, the 29-year-old Indian female who died is not known to have any other underlying medical conditions.

She was admitted to Changi General Hospital's emergency department on 25th July after she fainted that morning.

Before that she suffered flu-like symptoms for four days.

A day after admission, she was transferred to the ICU because of low oxygen saturation.

She died on Sunday morning and the cause of death, according MOH, is pneumonia with renal failure and H1N1 infection as a contributing factor.

She is the sixth H1N1-related death in Singapore.

--938Live

overweight = chornic diseases = high risk of infection

QX179R SG

Two more H1N1 flu patients admitted into ICU

SINGAPORE: Two more H1N1 flu patients have been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The first case is a 70-year-old woman in Singapore General Hospital with a medical history of diabetes who has undergone a kidney transplant.

The second case is a 23-year-old man in National University Hospital with a medical history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is a type of muscular dystrophy characterised by rapid progression of muscle degeneration. He also has a medical history of restrictive lung disease secondary to scoliosis, and superior mesenteric artery syndrome, which is a rare, life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder.

There are currently 89 H1N1 flu patients who are hospitalised and 12 of them are in intensive care.

- CNA/yt

QX179R SG

2 more H1N1-related deaths

Two more people have died from H1N1-related complications.

A 51-year-old Indian lady with Down’s syndrome and high body mass index passed away yesterday afternoon of pneumonia, caused by H1N1.

A statement from the Health Ministry says she went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Emergency Department yesterday after a three-day history of flu-like symptoms.

While there, she had breathing difficulties and low blood pressure.

The second case was a 78-year-old Chinese man with no medical history.

He passed away this morning.

The man went to Alexandra Hospital’s Emergency Department on Tuesday with a one-day history of fever and shortness of breath.

While in ICU, his condition deteriorated.

The cause of death has been certified as heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), with H1N1 pneumonia as a contributing factor.

--938Live

QX179R SG

New H1N1 ICU case

One more person has been admitted to intensive care after coming down with H1N1.

The 16-year-old Malay girl has a history of epilepsy and recurrent acute laryngotracheobronchitis.

She is now being treated at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

As of today, 13 H1N1 patients are in ICU and 90 hospitalised.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Worst of first H1N1 wave in S'pore could be over

SINGAPORE: Singapore may be past the worst of its first H1N1 wave.

According to head of the Communicable Diseases Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Dr Leo Yee Sin, it appears “to be (on) a downward trend”.

This seems to reaffirm Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s outlook in late July that H1N1 infections here would peak over the subsequent two weeks before starting to decline.

But Dr Leo added: “I think we need to wait one or two more weeks for things to become clearer.”

Speaking on Friday at the 43rd Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine, she pointed out that Singapore’s experience with H1N1 has been the “mirror image” of the experience of the United States.

That being so, the good news is this virus could, in fact, be “a milder one” than the seasonal flu bug. There are fewer H1N1- related deaths in the US, than deaths from the normal flu.

At TTSH, while there was an increase in patients with pneumonia admitted during the earlier surge in H1N1 cases, there was no increase in pneumonia deaths due specifically to H1N1, said Dr Leo.

Still, she cautioned: “We’re possibly still in the middle of the H1N1 pandemic. There is a lot to learn and watch closely.”

On influenza in general, speakers at the congress touched on the disease’s impact on, among other things, the economy and employers. And in Dr Leo’s view, flu “treatments and vaccines are grossly underutilised in our population”.

When TTSH started testing patients with flu-like illnesses — before Singapore had its first H1N1 case — only six per cent had a history of flu vaccinations.

She also called for more structured programmes to monitor and manage flu. “With our biomedical research capability, we can be a leading centre for influenza research in the tropics.”

- TODAY/ yt

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