Useful Information

Suspected SARS case in Singapore

9 September 2003

Dear Doctor,

I would like to bring your attention to a suspected SARS case in Singapore. A man was hospitalized for fever in Singapore with preliminary test positive for SARS coronavirus. Further tests are being done in Singapore to confirm the preliminary diagnosis. Department of health has contacted the Ministry of Health, Singapore for more information and will keep you posted of new development. The Department of Health will closely monitor the situation. In view of the Singaporean experience, please maintain due vigilance in infection control measures in your health care facility and laboratory, and maintain good staff sickness records, and report to the Department of Health of any suspected SARS case or acute respiratory illness outbreak (even those with relatively mild symptoms) for further investigations.

Advice and information for health care professionals can be found in the DH website: http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/guideline_infection/346.html

For prevention of respiratory tract infection, please advise your clients to adopt the following measures:

• Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
• Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
• Maintain good ventilation;
• Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;
• Consult a doctor promptly if they develop respiratory symptoms;
• Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to people around them; and
• Put on a mask if taking care of a patient with respiratory symptoms and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Yours faithfully, (Dr Marina Sum) for Director of Health