Sally Furniss
New member
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/131141.asp
Singapore to hold large-scale flu pandemic exercise
Posted: 17-Jul-2006 19:41 hr
A postman delivers guidebooks on a bird flu pandemic to letter boxes in Singapore in May 2006. Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals.
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore to hold large-scale flu pandemic exercise
Posted: 17-Jul-2006 19:41 hr
A postman delivers guidebooks on a bird flu pandemic to letter boxes in Singapore in May 2006. Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals.
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP
Singapore will simulate a flu pandemic on July 21 and July 22 in a large-scale exercise involving Changi Airport, a border crossing to Malaysia and several hospitals, the government has said.
.
More than 1,000 health workers and public servants from other agencies will take part along with about 500 volunteer "patients", the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
.
"The exercise will test and fine-tune the Flu Pandemic Readiness and Response plan at various levels among key government agencies as well as the public and private healthcare institutions," a ministry statement said.
.
The exercise at 19 locations is based on an avian influenza infection among humans and "simulates an escalation of the flu pandemic in Singapore," it said.
.
There will be a simulated surge of flu patients at participating medical clinics. Other volunteers at the air and land crossings will pretend to be patients or to have been in close contact with flu sufferers, the ministry said.
.
Temperature screening will be imposed and visitor movement restricted at the seven hospitals taking part in the exercise, which observers from around the region have been invited to watch.
.
The virus has killed or led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds around the world.
.
It has so far had a relatively limited impact on humans, who can catch it through contact with sick birds. About 130 people have died of bird flu since late 2003, the vast majority of them in Asia.
.
Health experts fear the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.
.
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector, has so far been spared the bird flu outbreak that has hit other Southeast Asian countries including neighbouring Indonesia where it is confirmed to have killed 41 people.
.
But Singapore, whose economy is heavily dependent on trade and commerce, is not taking any chances.
.
A high-level ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is overseeing contingency plans to maintain essential services should a pandemic break out.
.
Among the measures, the health ministry has stockpiled 680,000 doses of Tamiflu, which is considered the frontline drug against a potential pandemic, and has mailed to households a handbook detailing symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to take.
.
Singapore officials have projected that about one-quarter of the city-state's population of close to four million people would develop some degree of illness during a massive outbreak, while 1,900 could die. ? AFP