on Jul 8th, 2009No more quarantine & listing of infected H1N1 virus number in SG?
It came as a shock to me when I made a hotline call to SIngapore’s H1N1 hotline 1800 3339999, that even if you came in close contact with an infected person, there is no need for you to quarantine at home anymore!
One of my friends have been suspected of having H1N1, and as I am blogging now, he is still in the hospital doing the checks. I came in close contact with him on Monday (2 days ago), and he started showing symptoms on Tuesday. I was afraid that I might caught the virus from him, so I called the H1N1 hotline, asking if I should be concerned or would I have to be quarantined if he becomes a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus. I was told that there was no need for me to be quarantine even if he has the virus, unless I start to show symptoms.
This doesn’t really make sense at all, if the incubation period of the H1N1 virus is 1-7 days, that means, people that might have caught the virus and did not show symptoms, might be out there transmitting the virus NOW!
Next, is the news that Singapore will no longer be tracking the number of cases of H1N1 patients (last known number was over 1000), but instead, the ministry is tracking the proportion of H1N1 infections among all tested flu cases here. The last I heard, it is 99 percent in Melbourne.
I’m wondering why Singapore is stopping quarantine of people that came in close contact with known infected patients and why have they stopped tracking the numbers. Could it be the virus is predicted to affect so many people that it is impossible to quarantine everyone and keep track of the numbers? I really have no clue. All I know is that no one is safe from the H1N1 swine flu.
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You want a reason?
Simple, its an illness that you can’t run away from no matter what. Get it, fall sick and recover. Problem solved. Track for what purpose? Does the “who get it” matter so much? All people care about is, “Did any normal healthy person die from it?”
If you actually look at it, all these methods done by the Government is to please the critics and the kiasee.
I’m seeing this from a medical + practical POV.
The reason for removing the quarantine is simply and clearly stated on the MOH’s website. The clinical picture of the flu thus far is mild and most people can expect to recover after having caught the illness. It is not so much the symptoms but the possible mutations that are of a concern and this is tackled by MOH’s biosurveillance strategy.
Further, with the number of cases, contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring will be an unrealistic and impossible task and attempts to do so will have a major impact on the economy. Can you imagine if a large percentage of the workforce were quarantined over the slightest issue?
Next, it is not that MOH gave up on tracking the spread of the virus but that the WHO has announced that it is no longer tracking the number of cases in other countries. What do you expect MOH to do?
Also, other nations are moving in a similar direction in tems of their approach to H1N1. In fact, Australia is now regarding it as a normal flu. If Singapore, were to stand out and follow this “kiasee” mentality of the critics, how will this portray the image of Singapore to the world? Will not potential tourists’ which bring so much revenue to the economy be put off by the idea of having to be quarantined even if they have no symptoms just because there are some “kiasee” people around?
Look at the bigger picture and you will understand the government’s approach.