Although there is already 142 cases in Singapore, we are still in Alert Yellow, and stringent border controls will still be maintained, with temperature screening at air, land and sea checkpoints.

Measures Implemented:

Enhanced Flu Surveillance:

MOH has been monitoring the flu situation in Singapore, to identify the strains of flu virus circulating in our community. With the threat of an Influenza A (H1N1-2009) outbreak, MOH has enhanced flu surveillance to include up to 3 times more samples from both the community (i.e. polyclinics and GPs) and tertiary care (i.e. hospitals).

The flu A positivity decreased from 21.1% in E-week 22 (31 May - 6 Jun) to 19.9% (preliminary) in E-week 23 (7 Jun - 13 Jun).

Based on past trends, there are 2 peaks in flu activity in Singapore, usually in the months of May to June and December to January.

http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/default.aspx

Key Developments

US health officials said Tuesday they are no longer recommending that schools close because of suspected swine flu cases since the virus has turned out to be milder than initially feared.

World Health Organisation says it’s starting to ship 2.4 million treatments of antiflu drugs to 72 countries 'most in need'.

Mexico says epidemic has cost its economy at least US$2.2 billion (S$3.24 billion); announces US$1.3 billion stimulus package, mostly for small businesses and tourism.

Mexico cancels Cinco de Mayo celebrations but will allow most businesses to reopen Wednesday, universities to reopen Thursday.

Mexico City cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week; schools nationwide to reopen next week.

US Embassy in Beijing says four US citizens were quarantined in China.

Home Quarantine Order (HQO)

Since 4 May 2009, a total of 15 HQOs have been issued. To date, 7 were issued to foreign residents while 8 were issued to Singaporeans. 10 have successfully completed the HQO. The remaining 5 include 3 foreign residents and 2 Singaporeans.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
10 May 2009

Measures taken in Asia

Asia, a continent that has battled deadly viruses such as the H5N1 bird flu and Sars in recent years, has been taking steps to ward off the new swine flu virus. Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis

Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis:

CHINA - Dozens of Mexicans quarantined by China have been flown back to Mexico on a special charter flight. None showed any flu symptoms. China Southern Airlines flight carrying about 100 Chinese and stranded in Mexico after the flight ban is due in Shanghai later on Wednesday. All on board appear healthy, Xinhua quoted the airline as saying.

Chinese Health Ministry has asked for daily flu status reports from local governments. Stepped up checks at airports require all people entering country to fill out health status declarations. Those from flu-affected countries have to go through special channel and have temperatures taken.

Chinese Health Minister says China has expanded stocks of Tamiflu and similar drugs, and has sufficient capacity to manufacture the medicines.

China has banned pork from 17 more U.S. states, including top producers Iowa and North Carolina, bringing the total number of states banned to 36, United States says.

HONG KONG - One confirmed case of swine flu in Hong Kong involving a 25-year-old Mexican man. His downtown hotel remains under quarantine with around 300 guests and staff being isolated for a week till Friday May 8.

12 Mexicans, including four under quarantine, were flown out of Hong Kong on a special chartered flight arranged by the Mexican government.

Authorities have 20 million doses of Tamiflu and other anti-flu drugs to treat two million people. Screening has been stepped up at all entry points.

SOUTH KOREA - South Korea confirmed its second case of H1N1 flu, a Catholic nun who lives in the same area as the first confirmed victim, who has already recovered and been released from hospital, health ministry officials said.

Recommends nationals staying in Mexico to leave unless on urgent business. Agriculture Ministry suspends imports of live pigs from North America. Running round-the-clock emergency quarantine centre.

Tamiflu stockpile for 2.5 million people. Working to increase that to 10 percent of population of about 49 million.

NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand reduced its number of confirmed cases by one on Tuesday, as one person was confirmed prematurely ahead of the results of final testing.

Health Ministry to boost national stockpile of anti-viral drugs by 10 percent to nearly 1.4 million doses, which will give cover to just under one-third of the population.

Raised level of national pandemic plan and screening all flights from North America.

BRUNEI - Imposed a 10-day quarantine on 200 passengers who flew in from Britain as they had travelled from affected countries, the Health Ministry said. Three passengers showed high temperatures but the results for H1N1 flu virus were negative.

Thermal scanners have been set up at the international airport and other exit points.

Issued temporary bans on importing pork from countries with high numbers of flu cases.

AUSTRALIA - Authorities say 33 people are being tested for flu.

Australia has already tested and cleared 399 people.

Government approves tough new powers to detain, disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu. Thermal scanners deployed at eight international airports, health declaration cards will be compulsory for all people arriving in Australia from May 6.

Enough anti-viral drugs to cover around 41 percent of 21 million population. Australia has stockpiled 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu, Relenza drugs and 50 million surgical masks.

THAILAND - A 52-year-old female German tourist and two Thai men are being tested for the H1N1 virus, the Health Ministry said.

Three Thai students still under observation after returning from Mexico on Sunday. The remaining 11 students and teachers in their group have tested negative for the virus.

Govt has 320,000 sets of Tamiflu stockpiled. GPO, state-owned drug maker, can produce one million capsules of generic Tamiflu if needed. Thailand has population of about 65 million.

Temperature screening checkpoints at international airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket.

VIETNAM - Visitors arriving from the swine flu infected countries are being isolated and nationals advised not to visit zones reported with the disease.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city of more than 8 million people, has stocks of Tamiflu enough for 1 million people.

SINGAPORE - Eight people who have just returned from Mexico ordered into a week-long home quarantine. The eight, two foreigners and six Singaporeans, have to monitor their temperature twice a day and check for flu-like symptoms.

Thermal scanners at airport and isolation units at hospitals, where staff at some emergency departments are wearing full protective clothing.

JAPAN - Japan's main international airport has roughly tripled the number of officers, doctors and nurses at its quarantine section ahead of the last day of the week-long Golden Week holidays, a spokesman at the quarantine section said.

About 48,000 travellers are expected to return to Japan through the airport on Wednesday, according to Kyodo News.

Government has about 33.8 million people's worth of Tamiflu stockpiled. In addition, 8.3 million people's worth of Tamiflu is expected to be bought soon. About 2.68 million people worth of Relenza stockpiled by the central govt. Japan's population estimated to be around 128 million people.

TAIWAN - Current supplies of swine flu treatment to cover 10 percent of Taiwan's 23 million population as well as more than a million face masks for emergency use.

MALAYSIA - Boosting Tamiflu stockpile to cover 10 percent of the 27-million population compared to 7.5 percent currently.

Using more thermal scanners at international airports, especially for passengers on flights from countries facing outbreaks.

CAMBODIA - Temperature screening checkpoints at main airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, home of the Angkor temples, the country's biggest tourist destination.

Cambodia has 15,750 packets of Tamiflu stockpiled.

PHILIPPINES - The Philippines Agriculture Department has lifted a ban on imports of meat products from 18 countries, including the United States and Mexico, but maintained the ban on shipments from Canada where there was evidence of the influenza A H1N1 virus in hogs.

Health officials to recommend increase in the government stockpile of Tamiflu to one million doses from 600,000 now which covers 60,000 cases. Philippines has population of 90 million.

Government seven-point line of defence includes tighter screening measures at all entry points to country and campaign for proper hygiene

BANGLADESH - Travellers, particularly those coming from countries already hit by recent outbreak, to be screened.

INDONESIA - Temperature scanners installed at 10 airports and ports with immediate effect. Blanket ban on pig imports. Health ministry distributes safety gear to local health centres and hospitals.

At least 3 million Tamiflu capsules in stock.

INDIA - Raising Tamiflu stocks to 10 million from 3 million over the next seven days.

Opening quarantine facilities in all 21 international airports. Surveillance stepped up at international airports and ports. Facilities set up to screen passengers arriving from swine flu-affected areas.

ASEAN - Asean health ministers will try to coordinate their fight against the flu at emergency meeting in Thailand next week.

Has 500,000 courses of antivirals stockpiled in Singapore and another 500,000 distributed among Asean member states.