SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH), National Environment
Agency (NEA), Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore
(AVA) and Singapore’s national water agency (PUB) are jointly
investigating a surge of patients with gastroenteritis in the Owen
Road area, they announced on Tuesday (May 24).
As of May 23, more than 180 cases have been reported, the
agencies said in a joint press release. Investigation into the
possible source has not concluded; however, as a precautionary
measure, NEA will close Pek Kio Market and Food Centre for a
thorough cleaning and disinfection from May 25 and 26. The market
will re-open on May 27. On May 19, MOH was alerted by a general
practitioner at Owen Road that the clinic had seen an unusual
increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis since May 16.
Further investigations found that other clinics in the area had
experienced a similar increase. In all, more than 180 cases had
sought medical treatment for symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting,
fever and abdominal pain in the past week. The cases typically
recovered within a few days. There were seven patients who are
warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for observation. All of them are
recovering well, the agencies said.
NEA, MOH, AVA and PUB said they had commenced investigations
into the cause immediately on May 19, including collecting food and
environmental samples from food outlets in the Owen Road area, as
well as interviewing affected cases and screening stool samples
from the affected cases. Their investigations found that the
majority of the cases stayed near or visited the Owen Road
area.
Many of them had also patronised the Pek Kio Market and Food
Centre, although the investigations did not identify any specific
food stall that could be the source of the reported cases.
Stool samples collected from cases tested positive for
Rotavirus, which causes gastric flu.
