57 suspected MERS cases investigated in S’pore, all tested negative: MOH
Nurses Felicia Tang and Sujithra P Nair from Tan Tock Seng Hiospital in protective suits. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — As of Wednesday (June 10), 57 suspect cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) had been investigated locally here this year, and all tested negative.
The Ministry of Health, which began temperature screening for South Koreans at air checkpoints here on Tuesday, said this in response to media queries yesterday.
As of 2pm on Wednesday, passengers on seven flights from South Korea had been screened. One case was referred for further evaluation, but tested negative for MERS.
An outbreak of the disease in South Korea — where it has killed 11 — prompted the MOH to step up precautionary measures this week, while Tan Tock Seng Hospital — the designated hospital for any MERS cases — has stepped up preparations for detecting and handling suspected cases.
During a visit to the hospital yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it is not a question of if but when a MERS case is detected here, but said the Republic is well-prepared for the eventuality.
The MOH also said since temperature screening began on May 18 last year at air checkpoints for those arriving from the Middle East, 33 passengers have been referred for further evaluations. Of these, 17 were admitted for investigations, but none tested positive.
The virus has caused panic in South Korea, who yesterday reported its 11th death, bringing to 126 the total number of people in South Korea diagnosed with the virus. The number of new cases, however, fell to four, down from 14 the previous day and 13 on Wednesday.
The MOH reiterated that all their hospitals “stand ready to screen and isolate any suspect cases”. Patients with symptoms of pneumonia or severe respiratory infection with breathlessness, and had travelled to the Middle East and South Korea in the two weeks before onset, will be evaluated to exclude the infection.
