- S E G A L A_ M A C A M_ P E N Y A K I T -

fatz

Singapura : 7 Mei 2009         
         
TAHAP WASPADA FLU H1N1 DITURUNKAN MULAI ISNIN

Virus didapati tidak seserius seperti yang dijangkakan

Oleh
Hisham Hasim

TAHAP waspada terhadap penularan penyakit Influenza A (H1N1) yang kini berwarna oren di Singapura akan diturunkan kepada tahap kuning, berkuatkuasa Isnin ini.

Ini memandangkan jenis virus tersebut didapati tidak seserius seperti yang dijangkakan dan lebih bersifat flu musiman.

Ini bermakna beberapa langkah yang dikuatkuasakan semasa tahap oren akan ditiadakan secara berperingkat-peringkat.

Namun, pihak berkuasa akan mengekalkan pemeriksaan suhu badan di pintu keluar masuk sempadan negara dan di hospital-hospital serta klinik, manakala penumpang yang datang dari Mexico akan tetap dikuarantin selama tujuh hari di bawah perintah kuarantin di rumah (HQO).

Mengumumkan perkembangan tersebut dalam satu sidang akhbar di Kementerian Penerangan, Perhubungan dan Kesenian (Mica) semalam, Menteri Kesihatan, Encik Khaw Boon Wan, berkata bahawa respons terbaru ini adalah selaras dengan pelan respons penularan Singapura yang mengukur jangkitan berdasarkan tahap penularan serta sejauh mana ia serius.

'Awalnya kami sangkakan virus tersebut adalah merbahaya dan mudah dijangkiti. Kini nampaknya ia lebih kepada flu musiman. Namun oleh kerana situasinya masih berkembang, kita perlu menyemak dan mengubah respons kita dan bersedia menghadapi ancaman yang berubah-ubah,' kata Encik Khaw.

Mulai hari ini perintah mengehadkan kepada hanya satu pengunjung ke hospital akan ditiadakan, sebaliknya dua pengunjung kini dibenarkan.

Pemeriksaan suhu badan di sekolah-sekolah, bangunan-bangunan dan di acara-acara serta di tempat kerja juga akan dihentikan.

Namun, Encik Khaw menekankan bahawa setiap penduduk Singapura harus prihatin terhadap penyakit tersebut secara serius.

'Penularan akan datang mungkin tidak seringan kali ini. Ayuh kita gunakan krisis ini untuk meningkatkan tahap kebersihan diri kita. Kewaspadaan masih tetap penting,' tegasnya.

Encik Khaw turut memuji tahap respons yang diberikan rakyat Singapura, termasuk tindakan yang diambil di hospital-hospital, pintu-pintu masuk negara, serta syarikat-syarikat.

'Harus diingat bahawa tahap kuning bukannya berwarna hijau. Virus tersebut masih menular di luar sana dan membuat orang sakit dan mungkin ia akan sampai di sini.

'Situasinya kekal dinamik dan kita harus terus berwaspada,' kata Encik Khaw.

Menurut laporan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) semalam, virus H1N1 sejauh ini telah meragut 30 nyawa dan menjangkit lebih 1,500 orang di 21 negara.

Di Singapura, daripada 29 kes yang sedang disiasat Pusat Penyakit Berjangkit Hospital Tan Tock Seng, kesemuanya didapati bebas daripada virus tersebut.

Seramai 12 orang telah dikenakan perintah kuarantin di rumah (HQO), enam daripada mereka adalah warga asing, sementara bakinya warga setempat.

Perintah kuarantin bagi dua warga asing tamat malam semalam.

OREN KE KUNING

ANTARA PERUBAHAN MULAI HARI INI:

Hospital

# Setiap pesakit dibenarkan menerima dua pelawat pada satu masa.

Langkah kawalan sempadan

# Individu yang melawat kawasan terjejas dengan virus Influenza A perlu hubungi talian 993 jika kurang sihat, batuk atau demam.

Di tempat kerja, bangunan dan acara

# Pekerja/pengunjung tidak perlu periksa suhu badan.

fatz

Ekstra! : 7 Mei 2009        
         
KESELAMATAN MAKANAN

MAKANAN TEPI JALAN, APA HARUS DIPERHATIKAN

Jangkitan kuman punca utama penyakit yang berasal dari makanan

Oleh
Dewani Abbas

MASALAH penularan virus flu H1NI mungkin menguasai fikiran ramai daripada kita ketika ini.

Namun, soal keracunan makanan yang telah meragut dua jiwa di sini baru-baru ini tidak harus dilupakan, dan langkah keselamatan harus terus diamalkan apabila melanggani tempat makanan awam dan menyiapkan makanan sendiri di rumah.

Keprihatinan ini disuarakan oleh dua orang wakil eksekutif Pusat Maklumat Makanan Asia atau Asian Food Information Centre (Afic) yang berpangkalan di Bangkok, Thailand - Dr George Fuller, Pengarah Eksekutif Afic; dan Dr Roger Bektash, Presiden Afic - yang berada di Singapura untuk mengetengahkan panduan mengenai keselamatan makanan dan gaya hidup sihat.

Khusus mengenai keselamatan makanan di tempat awam seperti makanan yang dijual di tepi jalan, Dr Fuller menarik perhatian tentang perlunya pelanggan berhati-hati.

Walaupun makanan yang dijual di tepi jalan kurang terdapat lagi di sini kecuali di pasar malam atau semasa bazar musim perayaan, ia adalah fenomena yang meluas di banyak negara Asia.

Beliau memberikan lima panduan berikut:

# Makan hanya makanan yang sudah dimasak ketika ia masih panas.

# Usah makan makanan yang sudah lama terbiar.

# Elakkan makanan yang seharusnya sejuk tetapi sudah terasa hangat.

# Elakkan makanan yang kelihatan ganjil dan berbau kurang enak.

# Perhatikan jika ada sijil-sijil yang diiktiraf yang mengesahkan kebersihan tempat makan itu.

Namun, memang tidak mudah memastikan kebersihan dan keselamatan makanan yang dijual oleh pegerai jalanan. Menurut Afic, antara cabarannya ialah:

# Banyaknya bilangan pegerai tepi jalan (di Asia amnya).

# Taraf pendidikan yang rendah di kalangan ramai pegerai.

# Pegerai kurang pengetahuan mengenai kebersihan makanan.

# Sekitaran tidak bersih untuk pegerai beroperasi.

Bagaimanapun, pada akhirnya pelanggan sendirilah yang memainkan peranan utama memastikan makanan yang mereka makan selamat dan menyihatkan untuk mereka.

Menurut Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), kebanyakan masalah penyakit yang berpunca daripada makanan adalah disebabkan kesilapan yang dilakukan oleh manusia sendiri semasa memegang makanan.

Perangkaan kesihatan menunjukkan bahawa punca utama penyakit yang berasal daripada makanan adalah jangkitan mikrobiologi yang terdiri daripada kuman dan bakteria.

Afic menarik perhatian tentang beberapa perkara ini yang perlu sentiasa diingati:

# Bakteria paling mudah membiak di makanan dalam suhu antara 5 darjah Celsius dengan 60 darjah Celsius.

Oleh itu, elak memasak makanan lama sebelum ia hendah dimakan; jangan biarkan makanan terbiar di sekitaran suhu yang memudahkan pembiakan bakteria; dan pastikan makanan dimasak betul dengan kepanasan yang mencukupi.

# Selalu basuh tangan sebelum menyiapkan makanan atau semasa hendak makan.

# Perkakas yang digunakan untuk memasak makanan mentah mesti dicuci bersih selepas digunakan, dan ia dicuci bersih juga jika ia mahu digunakan untuk makanan yang sudah dimasak atau yang mentah seperti sayur salad atau buah.

# Jika anda kurang pasti sama ada selamat atau tidak memakan sesuatu jenis makanan mentah seperti sejenis buah atau sayur tertentu, Afic menasihatkan agar anda sama ada merebusnya, memasaknya, mengupas kulitnya atau tidak memakannya terus.

Keterangan lanjut mengenai Afic dan usaha-usaha yang dijalankannya boleh didapati melalui laman webnya <http://www.afic.org

fatz

Ekstra! : 7 Mei 2009         

PAKAR: H1N1 TETAP VIRUS BABI

WALAU apa pun nama yang diberikan kepadanya, pakar-pakar menyatakan bahawa virus yang telah mencengkam dunia kini ialah virus flu yang pada sebahagian besarnya berpunca daripada babi.

Pada minggu lalu pemerintah Amerika Syarikat dan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) telah menukar nama rasmi virus itu kepada virus influenza A H1N1.

Namun, menurut laporan agensi berita Associated Press (AP), pakar-pakar sains yang menjejak baka virus itu berkata:

'Secara genetik virus ini kebanyakannya berasal daripada babi dan pucuk pangkal virus ini ialah virus babi.'

Enam daripada lapan segmen cabang virus itu adalah daripada flu babi dan lagi dua segmen adalah daripada burung dan manusia, tetapi virus itu telah berada di dalam tubuh babi sepanjang dekad yang lalu, kata Dr Raul Rabadan, profesor bidang biologi komputasi di Universiti Columbia, Amerika.

Analisis awal menunjukkan bahawa baka terdekat flu ini ialah cabang flu babi dari Amerika Utara dan Eropah-Asia, tulis Dr Rabadan dalam sebuah laman web saintifik Eropah.

Dr Richard Webby, penyelidik di Hospital Penyelidikan Kanak-Kanak St Jude di Memphis, Amerika, juga menekankan bahawa secara saintifik, virus H1N1 itu adalah virus flu babi.

Pada Khamis lalu, WHO mengumumkan virus itu tidak lagi dipanggil virus flu babi kerana ia memberi gambaran salah dan membuat sesetengah negara melakukan pembunuhan babi.

Pemerintah Amerika pula menukar namanya kerana ia telah membuat ramai orang takut memakan daging babi dan menjejas perusahaan daging babi Amerika yang bernilai AS$97 bilion ($143 bilion).

syirunis

Singapore confirms first case of H1N1
Posted: 27 May 2009 1033 hrs


Communicable Diseases Centre at Singapore's Tan Tock Seng Hospital

SINGAPORE: Singapore has confirmed its first case of Influenza A (H1N1).

The patient, a 22-year-old Singapore Management University student, is currently being treated at the Communicable Disease Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and is in stable condition.

The Singaporean woman was in New York from May 14 to 24. She arrived back in Singapore from New York on flight SQ25 on May 26 at 6.30am. She was seated at Row 55.

She began to develop a cough while onboard. She had passed through the thermal scanner uneventfully as she did not have a fever then.

Later in the morning, she consulted a GP who decided to send her to TTSH via a 993 ambulance, given her travel history. She was immediately admitted for testing. Laboratory confirmation of her infection was made by midnight of May 26.

The patient has been vigilant in monitoring her own condition and had sought immediate medical attention once she realized that she was unwell.

Her attending GP, through his quick response in activating the 993 ambulance for the patient, had also helped to minimize the spread of infection from this case.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has initiated contact tracing of her close contacts. They will be quarantined and provided with antiviral prophylaxis.

Passengers who had travelled in the same flight and were seated in rows 52 to 58 are urged to call the hotline at 1800-333-9999 to enable the MOH to check on their health condition.

The MOH said that all medical practitioners and healthcare institutions should continue to be vigilant on suspect cases.

Singapore will continue with temperature screening for passengers entering Singapore at all checkpoints (land, sea and air).

All passengers passing through or entering Singapore are given Health Alert Notices on board their flights, advising them to monitor their own health if they have been to affected areas and to seek medical attention immediately if they are not well.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: "We know that sooner or later we will have our first case (of H1N1 flu) and now we do. I suppose we have been lucky - we have now five weeks since the alert to prepare ourselves, as well as Singaporeans for this eventuality.

"So there should really be no cause for alarm - especially in this case. The patient has been most responsible... and the GP is highly commendable. (The GP) made the right judgement - calling 993 so that within six hours of (the patient's) touchdown in Singapore, she was isolated in the hospital. So the risk of her causing a spread in Singapore should be very low."

Speaking at a labour event on Wednesday, NTUC chief Lim Swee Say said Singapore is prepared for its first case of the H1N1 virus.

He said: "All of us are psychologically prepared for this, but the issue here is not so much on when, now that it has happened. I think what we have to focus on is the speed of spreading. What we have to do is ensure that the entire community plays their part."

Singaporeans are reminded to maintain high standards of personal hygiene. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after contact with respiratory secretions, for example, after sneezing and coughing.

Everyone also needs to be socially responsible. This means staying home and avoiding crowded places like trains, buses and offices, putting on a surgical mask and seeing a doctor if you have flu symptoms.

MOH advises those who have travelled to affected areas to closely monitor their health and seek treatment as soon as possible should they develop symptoms.

Members of the public are also advised to exercise caution over travel to affected areas.

In the event that travel is unavoidable, the public is advised to take precautionary measures such as avoiding crowded areas and maintaining high standards of personal hygiene at all times.

If you are unwell with fever and a cough, but have no travel history to affected areas, you are also advised to see a doctor and stay at home.

MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public should there be any new developments.

For more information on Influenza A (H1N1-2009), you can access MOH's website at www.moh.gov.sg, call MOH's hotline at 1800-333-9999, or visit www.flu.gov.sg.

- CNA/ir

syirunis

Singapore's first H1N1 patient is an SMU student
Posted: 27 May 2009 1434 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's first H1N1 case is a 22-year-old student from the Singapore Management University (SMU).

She is a third-year Business Management student at SMU. She was on its New York Business Study Mission with 19 other students and a faculty member from May 14-24.

SMU said she returned to Singapore on May 26 early morning with the faculty member and another student. She went to see a doctor as she felt unwell during the flight.

She informed the university on May 27 when she found out she was tested positive.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said a fellow student and a professor who travelled with her, along with a friend who met her at the airport and the family maid, have also been quarantined as a precautionary measure.

They will continue to monitor their health and take temperature checks twice daily.

SMU has contacted the remaining 17 students who are still in New York.
Meanwhile, most of the other students in New York have taken the H1N1 flu test and are doing fine. One other student had come back alone earlier and is doing fine.

The man who sat next to the H1N1 victim was the faculty member in charge of her group.

Mark Chong, associate professor, Corporate Communications Practice, said: "Every morning at breakfast, I made it a point to take their temperature and during the trip, no one had reported any unusual temperature. I've spoken to several of the students who are still in North America and they were concerned about the health of their fellow classmate. They've done the responsible thing, and gone to a doctor for a check up themselves."

The patient is now recovering in Tan Tock Seng Hospital and has not been back on campus since returning from New York. SMU is in close touch with her.

When contacted by Channel NewsAsia, the student sounded tired on the phone, saying she would prefer not to be interviewed at this time.

Mr Khaw said: "The doctors told me that she has no other underlying medical conditions so I think like most other patients elsewhere... her recovery should be uneventful, but we will see how things go."

Associate Professor Leo Yee Sin, clinical director, Communicable Disease Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "We will be keeping her for daily nasal and throat swabs until it's proven to be negative, before we discharge her. At this point, she behaves like a common influenza in a young individual. I anticipate that this is going to be an uncomplicated case."

The SMU student passed the thermal scanner at the airport because she was not feverish but consulted a doctor later in the day and was referred to a hospital that handles suspected H1N1 flu cases.

The ministry said she was admitted for tests, which confirmed she was suffering from A(H1N1).

Mr Khaw said the risks of a spread of the virus to others in the city-state was low as the student was isolated within six hours of her arrival. "There really should be no cause for alarm, especially in this case - the patient has been most responsible," Khaw said.

He said officials were now trying to track up to 60 people who had come in close contact with her on the plane, some of whom left the city-state on connecting flights.

The health ministry urged passengers who had travelled in the same flight and were seated in rows 52 to 58 to call the hotline at 1800- 333 9999. -AFP/CNA/vm

syirunis

Singapura : 2 Jun 2009        
         
FLU H1N1

DUA LAGI KES DI SINI

DUA lagi kes Influenza A (H1N1) dikesan di sini, menjadikan tujuh pesakit disahkan kesemuanya.

Menurut satu kenyataan Kementerian Kesihatan (MOH) malam tadi, dua pesakit baru itu sedang dirawat di Pusat Penyakit Berjangkit (CDC) di Hospital Tan Tock Seng (TTSH).

Namun, tanda-tanda jangkitan mereka didapati ringan dan keadaan mereka stabil.

Menurut MOH, pesakit keenam lelaki warga Singapura berusia 36 tahun yang pulang dari Manila 29 Mei lalu menaiki pesawat Singapore Airlines (SIA) SQ 917.

Beliau kemudian menaiki teksi ke rumah dan duduk di rumah seharian. Esoknya beliau keluar sekejap dan pulang petang lalu duduk di rumah kerana berasa tidak sihat.

Pagi semalam beliau menghubungi ambulans 993 untuk membawanya ke TTSH bagi ujian dan disahkan dijangkiti virus H1N1.

Pesakit ketujuh pelancong lelaki Australia berusia 30 tahun yang ke Chicago, Detroit dan New York dari 14 hingga 30 Mei. Beliau tiba di sini semalam dari New York menaiki pesawat SIA SQ25. Beliau terus pergi ke klinik Raffles Medical Group dan kemudian dihantar ke TTSH dan disahkan dijangkiti H1N1.

Menurut MOH, ia sedang menghubungi penumpang yang menaiki pesawat yang sama, khususnya yang berada di tempat duduk tiga barisan di depan dan tiga barisan di belakang dua pesakit itu.

virgomal

Paediatric ICU facilities in all hospitals may treat H1N1 flu patients
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 17 June 2009 2246 hrs



SINGAPORE: With more H1N1 flu cases expected, the Health Ministry (MOH) says it is prepared to use paediatric ICU facilities in all hospitals here to meet the expected demand at some stage.

Currently, children with H1N1 flu are hospitalised in KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

All entrances to the hospital have screening stations, where visitors must have their temperature checked before being allowed entry.

Most visitors Channel NewsAsia spoke to say they are satisfied with the measures taken by KKH, although there are concerns that young patients seeking treatment for other illnesses may be exposed to the H1N1 flu virus.

One said: 揥hen we go inside, they will take the temperature. So I believe it's quite safe.

virgomal

Singapura : 18 Jun 2009        
         
AMARAN JANGAN AMBIL DELIMA RAJA URAT

PENGUASA Sains Kesihatan (HSA) menasihati orang ramai supaya tidak mengambil jamu berjenama Delima Raja Urat (gambar) kerana ia boleh memudaratkan seperti kencing manis, darah tinggi serta kerosakan otot dan tulang.

Dalam kenyataannya semalam, HSA berkata seorang pesakit yang telah mengambil jamu tersebut sekitar sebulan, didapati mengalami masalah kandungan gula dalam darahnya tiba-tiba tinggi dan beliau kemudian menghidap kencing manis.

Menurut HSA, dalam labelnya, pengedar jamu tersebut, Toko Jamu Tri Andara beralamat di Pasar Borong Pandan, Johor Bahru, mendakwa ia boleh merawat sakit urat, sakit pinggang, sendi tulang, sakit lutut, kebas kaki tangan dan gout serta lelah.

Bagaimanapun, ujian HSA mendapati jamu tersebut mengandungi empat bahan yang tidak diisytiharkan seperti dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, pheniramine dan sibutramine.

HSA turut menasihati orang ramai supaya tidak mengambil ubat Cina berjenama Cao Gen Bai Lin Wan kerana ia juga mempunyai kesan sampingan yang sama.

Orang ramai yang mempunyai maklumat mengenai penjualan kedua-dua ubat tersebut digalak menghubungi cawangan penguatkuasaannya menerusi talian 6866-3485 atau e-mel kepada [email protected].

virgomal

S'pore confirms 17 new cases of H1N1 flu, bringing total to 66
Posted: 17 June 2009 2207 hrs



SINGAPORE: Singapore's Health Ministry (MOH) has confirmed another 17 H1N1 cases, bringing the total so far in the republic to 66.

All the latest cases were imported, with six from Melbourne, six from the Philippines and the rest also from countries with known community spread of H1N1.

According to the ministry, some of these patients had proceeded with their travel plans, meetings or social activities despite having developed symptoms.

Among the latest cases are two five-year-old children - one American boy in transit at Changi Airport while en route from California to Chennai via Hong Kong, and one Singaporean girl returning from the United States.

Contact tracing is being carried out for the 17 cases.

The ministry reminds travellers, especially those who have been to countries with sustained community transmission or are in transition towards community transition, not to engage in extensive community activities such as working, shopping and participating in mass activities until they are well.

This will help mitigate the risk of community spread in Singapore and make containment efforts more effective.

The ministry adds that with many Singaporeans returning from their June holidays or coming home for their summer vacation from countries such as the US, UK and Australia, Singapore can expect an increase in the number of imported cases of H1N1 flu.

Of the 66 confirmed cases so far, 31 are from Australia, 19 from the United States, 11 from the Philippines, with the rest from Thailand, Canada, UK and Chile. One case was a close local contact of an infected traveller.

MOH says so far, 25 patients have been discharged. 41 are still in hospital and their conditions are stable.

- CNA/yt

virgomal

RISIKO FLU H1N1 MENULAR DI SINI KIAN TINGGI

Doktor: Bilangan kes yang bertambah dan sikap sambil lewa pesakit akan sebabkan penyakit meluas ke peringkat masyarakat setempat

Oleh
Nurul 'Ain Razali

JANGKITAN virus Influenza A (H1N1) terus menular di sini hingga ke peringkat masyarakat setempat - tidak lagi kes-kes diimport seperti sekarang.

Ini berdasarkan bilangan kes penyakit itu yang terus meningkat dan sikap sambil lewa pesakit yang membantu penularan di kalangan masyarakat setempat.

Dr Muhammad Iqbal Abdullah dari klinik The ClinIQ di Canberra Road berkata flu itu sukar dibendung daripada merebak di sini.

'Jumlah kes Influenza H1N1 pasti meningkat kerana ramai yang pulang daripada bercuti di luar negara dan sesetengah mereka mungkin telah dijangkiti dan akan bergaul dengan orang ramai, seperti di pusat beli-belah dan keramaian,'' kata beliau.

Ramai warga Singapura tetap pergi bercuti di negara-negara yang dilanda penyakit itu.

Dr Iqbal memberi contoh beliau telah didatangi sebuah keluarga yang ingin mendapatkan suntikan mencegah flu bagi meneruskan percutian ke Australia kerana wang yang telah dibayar tidak dapat dikembalikan.

'Tapi berbanding flu burung dan penyakit sindrom sesak nafas mendadak (Sars), flu ini mempunyai kadar kematian lebih rendah,'' kata Dr Iqbal, yang berharap penyakit itu dapat terus dikawal daripada menjadi wabak di sini.

Kementerian Kesihatan menyatakan bahaya jangkitan peringkat masyarakat dijangka lebih besar dengan berlaku kes-kes terbaru yang mana pesakit bergiat dalam pelbagai kegiatan, termasuk bekerja, membeli-belah dan kegiatan masyarakat sejak ketibaan mereka di sini.

Dr Choong Sheau Peng daripada klinik United Medical Practitioners Pte Ltd di Tampines Street 11 pula berpendapat penularan virus H1N1 di Singapura masih terkawal.

Beliau berkata kemungkinan penularan penyakit itu meningkat di sini adalah sangat rendah kerana tahap kewaspadaan tinggi yang ditunjukkan pemerintah melalui cara pengesanan dan pengasingan pesakit.

'Memang jumlah kes di dunia semakin meningkat, namun saya tidak menjangka bahaya penularan di sini akan bertambah atau merebak di peringkat masyarakat.

'Buat masa ini keadaan sangat terkawal dan tidak begitu teruk kerana pemerintah berusaha mengekang penularan ,' kata Dr Choong.

Namun, beliau tidak menafikan bahawa jika ia menular di sekolah penyakit itu akan merebak dengan lebih cepat kerana pelajar merupakan sebahagian daripada masyarakat yang tertutup.

Dr Iqbal dan Dr Choong menasihatkan ibu bapa supaya membawa keluarga ke luar negara jika perlu sahaja dan elak berkunjung ke negara-negara terjejas, di samping selalu menjaga kebersihan diri.

Presiden Persatuan Perubatan Singapura, Dr Chong Yeh Woei, pula menyatakan peringkat mengesan dan mengasingkan pesakit yang dilakukan pihak berkuasa sekarang ini tidak dapat bertahan lama kerana sumber-sumber bagi melakukan tugas itu sudah mencapai batasnya.

Singapura akan memasuki peringkat lebih genting - merawat pesakit - seperti yang telah dilakukan di negara-negara yang dilanda wabak flu H1N1 itu.

Sehingga kelmarin, sebanyak 49 kes flu H1N1 dilaporkan di sini.

Di peringkat dunia pula, 145 kematian akibat penyakit itu dicatatkan daripada 29,669 kes yang dilaporkan di 74 negara.