MOH to cease listing affected countries

WHEN the number of H1N1 cases moves past 1,000 this weekend, the marker will be more than a symbolic one.

As one health expert has noted, even seasonal flu has a mortality rate of one in a thousand, and others believe H1N1 - even though the current strain remains mild - is twice as deadly.

Still, while the statistical likelihood of a local death increases, the virus has established itself as here to stay and widely circulating in all communities globally - requiring countries to change tack.

For one, many no longer track the number of infected cases, noted Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) in its Friday update. "The listing of countries with reported confirmed cases is therefore becoming misleading."

So, though it will continue for now to list such countries online at www.moh.gov.sg, MOH will soon stop doing so.

It also noted that the "risk of picking up the virus at home or in any other country has evened".

In light of this, schools in Singapore will, effective Monday, "no longer require students or staff with travel history to take a Leave of Absence, as this measure is no longer effective", according to the Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, precautionary measures that schools implemented in the first week of Term 3 were carried out smoothly.

They will continue to keep up the measures, such as temperature taking, to limit the spread of the disease. Staff and students who are unwell will be asked to seek medical attention and rest at home.

One cinema operator too is taking steps. Golden Village Multiplex is sanitising all its nine multiplexes housing 73 screens, with an anti-microbial treatment. Each treatment - which was developed by an American bio-security company - lasts two weeks.

While observing that it has "not seen a significant drop in the number of movie-goers", the operator said notices at all its foyers urge patrons not to purchase tickets should they feel unwell.

Overall, MOH said, the approach to managing H1N1 "should be largely based on personal responsibility", with Singaporeans practising good personal hygiene and seeking prompt medical attention if unwell.