SINGAPORE: Singapore will conduct temperature screening for travellers arriving on flights from areas where Nipah virus (NiV) outbreaks have been reported, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Wednesday (Jan 28).
This is one of several measures that will be implemented in the country as part of its initial response to the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.
CDA said that Singapore is closely monitoring the outbreak, which is the seventh in India since 2001.
The transmission of the Nipah virus is mainly through exposure to bats and consumption of date palm sap or fruits contaminated by bats.
CDA said that ongoing bio-surveillance programmes, which have been monitoring Singapore's bat populations since 2011, have not detected the virus in the country.
“The outbreak in West Bengal, however, is reportedly between humans, with two cases so far,” said CDA.
“Human-to-human transmission is rare but does occur,” CDA added.
In the current outbreak, transmission was reported to be within hospitals. No sustained community transmission is currently reported.
In addition to the temperature screening, Singapore will also require medical practitioners and laboratories to notify CDA immediately of all confirmed and suspected cases of the virus.
Second, CDA has also alerted hospitals and emergency departments to be vigilant for NiV infections in patients with compatible symptoms and recent travel history to the affected area, the agency said. Third, health advisories will be disseminated to travellers at points of entry to Singapore, with instructions to seek medical attention if unwell after travel for inbound travellers, and health precautions for outbound travellers.
Fourth, temperature screenings will be set up at the airport for flights arriving from affected areas.
Fifth, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will step up surveillance of newly arrived migrant workers from South Asia, and engage MOM primary care providers to increase vigilance.
Sixth, CDA will reach out to their counterparts in South Asia to better understand the situation.
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This is one of several measures that will be implemented in the country as part of its initial response to the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.
CDA said that Singapore is closely monitoring the outbreak, which is the seventh in India since 2001.
The transmission of the Nipah virus is mainly through exposure to bats and consumption of date palm sap or fruits contaminated by bats.
CDA said that ongoing bio-surveillance programmes, which have been monitoring Singapore's bat populations since 2011, have not detected the virus in the country.
“The outbreak in West Bengal, however, is reportedly between humans, with two cases so far,” said CDA.
“Human-to-human transmission is rare but does occur,” CDA added.
In the current outbreak, transmission was reported to be within hospitals. No sustained community transmission is currently reported.
In addition to the temperature screening, Singapore will also require medical practitioners and laboratories to notify CDA immediately of all confirmed and suspected cases of the virus.
Second, CDA has also alerted hospitals and emergency departments to be vigilant for NiV infections in patients with compatible symptoms and recent travel history to the affected area, the agency said. Third, health advisories will be disseminated to travellers at points of entry to Singapore, with instructions to seek medical attention if unwell after travel for inbound travellers, and health precautions for outbound travellers.
Fourth, temperature screenings will be set up at the airport for flights arriving from affected areas.
Fifth, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will step up surveillance of newly arrived migrant workers from South Asia, and engage MOM primary care providers to increase vigilance.
Sixth, CDA will reach out to their counterparts in South Asia to better understand the situation.
Continue reading...