FOLLOW-UP MEASURES BY NUS

The probable Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patient, a doctoral student working on the West Nile virus at a microbiology laboratory in the National University of Singapore (NUS), is currently at the Communicable Disease Centre and is well. The patient was last in the NUS campus on 26 August. He was well that day but developed a fever around midnight. He has stayed away from the University since 27 August 2003.

The staff and students at the Department of Microbiology who had been in contact with the SARS patient have been asked by the University to stay at home until the all-clear is given. Their temperatures are being monitored twice daily. It has been more than 10 days since the onset of the patient's symptoms and all his close contacts remain well and have not had any fever.

Upon learning of this new SARS case yesterday, NUS immediately implemented the following precautionary measures:

• Twice daily temperature taking and recording in the NUS centralized online system, for all staff and students at the Faculties of Medicine and Science and School of Computing, has been reinstated. Based on the NUS SARS Zonal Plan, these faculties are located within the same zone as the laboratory where the patient works. The temperature taking exercise also applies to cleaning and canteen staff working in these faculties.
  

• The virology laboratory concerned has been closed. The 10 people, comprising staff and students, working there have been asked to stay at home.

• A list of the patient's close contacts at the department has been collated and their temperature readings are being closely monitored on a daily basis.

The University wishes to reiterate that NUS laboratories do not engage in research on or store any live SARS virus. All SARS-related research carried out involves only dead virus, inactivated or non-infectious specimens which will not cause any infection.

NUS President has commissioned a Committee of Inquiry chaired by Professor Lai Choy Heng, Vice Provost and former Dean of Science. The Committee will review laboratory procedures at NUS and the events leading to the doctoral student's present condition, as well as make recommendations if necessary.

A SARS Hotline has been set up for information and verification and all students and staff are advised to visit the NUS SARS website regularly for further announcements and updates.

More information on precautionary measures against SARS at NUS can be found at www.nus.edu.sg/SARS.

Source: National University of Singapore, 10 Sep 2003