Singapore must be prepared for MERS

[Dankoo]

Looks like its a matter of time before MERS hit Singapore.....

 

Singapore must be prepared for MERS: PM Lee

The country's inter-connectivity and how the virus has been seen in neighbours Malaysia and the Philippines means Singapore must assume MERS will enter the country, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

SINGAPORE: The Republic must assume that the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) can and will enter the country, given its inter-connectivity and how neighbours such as Malaysia and the Philippines have had MERS cases, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Jun 11).

In a visit to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mr Lee said: "For us it's a matter of time, and for us, I wanted to be quite sure that our medical facilities our medical staff, the hospitals, the whole team are ready and they know how to deal with it. They don't fumble and we can contain it, and then put a stop to the disease in Singapore as quickly as we can."

TTSH has been designated by Singapore's Health Ministry to be the hospital for MERS-CoV patient cases once the virus was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

South Korea on Wednesday reported 2 more deaths and 13 more new MERS cases in the country.

PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND

The Singapore public also needs to know how to respond, Mr Lee added. If one has travelled and feels unwell, or displays flu symptoms, these individuals should take it seriously and visit the hospital to get checked, he said.

If there were to be MERS cases in the country, Singaporeans should not get into a panic, but know that the country is prepared and what can be done, he said.

TTSH said it has a robust preparedness plan to handle global pandemic threats, along with the dedicated facilities.

The hospital has started screening for suspect cases since 2012. It said all suspected and confirmed cases at the hospital will be isolated and managed under strict airborne infection control precautions.

It added processes are in place at the hospital's Emergency Department, to evaluate and screen patients with clinical signs of respiratory illnesses and a travel history to suspected regions. If suspected, patients are managed separately with masks and placed in isolation rooms for further medical consultation.

If needed, they will then be admitted into designated isolation wards at the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC).

On Tuesday, Singapore also started temperature screening at air checkpoints for travelers arriving from South Korea.

To date, no case of MERS-CoV has been reported in Singapore. But the Health Ministry has previously said the possibility of an imported case here cannot be ruled out given today's globalised travel patterns.

- CNA/kk

[13177]

Hopefully this MERS would not enter s'pore. If not it could become a repeated history of the SERS in 2003!

[lausai88]

The following 15 countries have reported cases of MERS:

1) Jordan, Kuwait

2) Oman, Qatar

3) Saudi Arabia

4) United Arab Emirates

5) Yemen (Middle East)

6) France, Germany

7) Greece, Italy

8) United Kingdom (UK) (Europe)

9) Tunisia

10) Egypt (Africa)

11) China

12) Malaysia

13) Republic of Korea

14) Philippines (Asia)

15) United States of America (Americas).

 

so it is possible MERS will to come to SG.

 

 

Looks like its a matter of time before MERS hit Singapore.....

 

Singapore must be prepared for MERS: PM Lee

The country's inter-connectivity and how the virus has been seen in neighbours Malaysia and the Philippines means Singapore must assume MERS will enter the country, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

SINGAPORE: The Republic must assume that the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) can and will enter the country, given its inter-connectivity and how neighbours such as Malaysia and the Philippines have had MERS cases, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Jun 11).

In a visit to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mr Lee said: "For us it's a matter of time, and for us, I wanted to be quite sure that our medical facilities our medical staff, the hospitals, the whole team are ready and they know how to deal with it. They don't fumble and we can contain it, and then put a stop to the disease in Singapore as quickly as we can."

TTSH has been designated by Singapore's Health Ministry to be the hospital for MERS-CoV patient cases once the virus was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

South Korea on Wednesday reported 2 more deaths and 13 more new MERS cases in the country.

PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND

The Singapore public also needs to know how to respond, Mr Lee added. If one has travelled and feels unwell, or displays flu symptoms, these individuals should take it seriously and visit the hospital to get checked, he said.

If there were to be MERS cases in the country, Singaporeans should not get into a panic, but know that the country is prepared and what can be done, he said.

TTSH said it has a robust preparedness plan to handle global pandemic threats, along with the dedicated facilities.

The hospital has started screening for suspect cases since 2012. It said all suspected and confirmed cases at the hospital will be isolated and managed under strict airborne infection control precautions.

It added processes are in place at the hospital's Emergency Department, to evaluate and screen patients with clinical signs of respiratory illnesses and a travel history to suspected regions. If suspected, patients are managed separately with masks and placed in isolation rooms for further medical consultation.

If needed, they will then be admitted into designated isolation wards at the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC).

On Tuesday, Singapore also started temperature screening at air checkpoints for travelers arriving from South Korea.

To date, no case of MERS-CoV has been reported in Singapore. But the Health Ministry has previously said the possibility of an imported case here cannot be ruled out given today's globalised travel patterns.

- CNA/kk

 

 

[Vid]

[SuPerBoRed]

The following 15 countries have reported cases of MERS:

1) Jordan, Kuwait

2) Oman, Qatar

3) Saudi Arabia

4) United Arab Emirates

5) Yemen (Middle East)

6) France, Germany

7) Greece, Italy

8) United Kingdom (UK) (Europe)

9) Tunisia

10) Egypt (Africa)

11) China

12) Malaysia

13) Republic of Korea

14) Philippines (Asia)

15) United States of America (Americas).

 

so it is possible MERS will to come to SG.

 

 

errmmm... ... i count 19 hor...

[LoverofCar]

What's the precautions to take? Same as SAR? Will affected person have fever and etc?

[Pinobii]

Can share what your companies are doing in relation to this?

[Neost]

Whatever will come, will come.

 

I believe we have all the necessary plans in place. Be it confinement, contract tracing, treatment etc... Just press button and all will fall in place.

[13177]

Malaysia also have cases of MERS! Malaysia so near to us!!! China also have, and sg always have china people coming in?

[Mockngbrd]

CCB FT!

[Joseph22]

CCB FT!

Maybe is tourist leh?? U know Ang mo like to travel a few country at one go.

[Lurpsexx]

MERS = SARS = Huat ah! Property drop, car coe drop, everything price drop! Time for a $ cost $ breather!

Edited June 11, 2015 by Lurpsexx

[Ktglfc]

Bros here, time to stock up N95 masks liao...

Buy while its still cheap....

You never know when MERS come in, and disrupt the supply...

[efssc]

After SARS I think we, both as a nation as well as the world, are now better prepared to handle an epidemic like this should it really happen (hopefully not though). Fact that the first MERS case was recorded back in 2012 and has not seen any SARS-level outbreak till now should attest to the first statement, hence it is probably too soon an over-reaction to go into panic.

 

Having said that, we should always remain vigilant, especially how the timing now coincides with our annual "haze season". It might also be a good idea to prep a little just in case. Buy and stock up a few masks like what some other bros suggested, alongside some bottled mineral water, instant noodles, can food, hand sanitizers, common cough and cold medicines etc., things you probably are already consuming on a daily basis, especially if you have old, young, sick or weak at home.

 

As long as we take care of ourselves and look out for one another, we will pull through this impending crisis; like we always have in the past, and always will in the future. Might also be a good idea for any bros to post here any good info you come across so that information can be shared among all.

 

Take care and good luck.

[efssc]

Just saw this on STOMP, copy and paste here for bros and sises who don't read STOMP.

 

"10 things to know about Mers:

1. It is a type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, which includes the common cold and Sars (sever acute respiratory syndrome). Yet, Mers is different from other coronaviruses found in people before.

2. The origin of the virus is uncertain, though it is likely from an animal source. Beside humans, Mers has been found in camels in Qatar and a bat in Saudi Arabia.

3. Mers can spread between people in close contact.

4. Symptoms include acute and severe respiratory symptoms, accompanied by fever, cough, suffocation and difficulty in respiration.

5. There is no vaccine yet. Patients are given supportive medication to alleviate symptoms and to deal with complications that arise.

6. About half of those infected have died.

7. There is currently no advisory against travel to countries of the Arabian Peninsula or to countries with reported cases of Mers. (personally I think this one better don't try if don't need to)

8. Preventive measures include observing good personal hygiene at all times. Practise frequent hand washing (before handling food and after going to the toilet). Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections, and avoid contact with animals.

9. Frequent travellers to affected countries are advised to get vaccinated against pneumococcal infections.

10. If you develop fever or symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as coughing or shortness of breath, within 14 days of travelling to affected countries, see a doctor immediately. Mention your travel history."

[Celicar]

I see what the tour agencies still organising trips to Korea have to say, dunno whether to laugh or cry, they say they have taken necessary precautions like giving out masks and sanitiser. Wah, they very careful.

[S4vtec]

Today's news reported that they are investigating the hypothesis MERS is now can be transmitted aibone. That's scary

[Forte3737]

Wonder this time how many people in Spore will die of MERS?