Is this disease a disaster to us? Would our earth end up like the movie knowing? Hope not.
Singapore current alert:
- Isolated external or local cases of animal-to-human transmission.
- Threat of human-to-human infection remains low. The disease, if any, is basically limited to animals.
- Strategy is to step up vigilance and make preparations to meet the potential threat.
Action:
- Place close contacts of cases under phone surveillance and observe them for flu-like symptoms.
- Encourage healthcare workers and high-risk groups to get vaccinated against seasonal flu.
- Instruct use of personal protection equipment for those looking after suspect cases.
- Advise public to practise good personal hygiene habits and responsible social behaviour.
Alert Yellow
- Inefficient human-to-human transmissions of flu caused by a novel virus, requiring close and sustained contact to an index case. Further spread can be prevented through public health measures to isolate cases and quarantine contacts.
- Risk of import into Singapore elevated. Isolated imported cases may occur but there is no sustained transmission.
- Strategy is to prevent further import of cases, and to ring fence and isolate cases to prevent spread. The focus will be to provide treatment of all cases, and antiviral prophylaxis to contacts including exposed healthcare workers.
Action:
- Alert Green action apart, institute home quarantine for close contacts of cases.
- Institute temperature screening and impose restriction on hospital and clinic visitors.
- Restrict inter-hospital movement, except in emergencies.
- Healthcare workers to take temperature twice a day.
- Institute temperature screening for passengers arriving from affected countries at border control checkpoints.
- Travellers from affected countries given Health Alert Notices (HANs) and advised to monitor their temperature daily for 1 incubation period.
Alert Orange
- Virus becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible , requiring close contact with an index case.
- Larger clusters appear in one or two places outside Singapore but a pandemic has not yet been declared. A cluster of cases may also occur in Singapore but human-to-human spread remains localized.
- Public health measures such as isolation and quarantine will be effective to break the chain of transmission. Strategy is to contain spread arising from any local cases and break the chain of transmission, while preserving essential services and resources.
Action:
- Implement “No visitor” rule at all hospitals.
- Restrict all inter-hospital movement of patients or healthcare workers.
- Set up Flu Clinics at the 18 Polyclinics for assessment and anti-viral treatment of flu-like patients.
- Commence antiviral prophylaxis for identified essential services.
- Encourage temperature taking at schools and all non-healthcare workplaces, markets, places of mass gatherings etc.
- Carry out temperature screening for in-bound and outbound passengers at all air, sea and land border checkpoints.
- Consider closing of schools and suspension of public gathering and events.
Alert Red
- WHO declares that an influenza pandemic has begun. Singapore eventually also affected.
Higher risk of acquiring the disease from the community once pandemic spreads to Singapore .
Strategy is to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
- All measures taken in Alert Orange will continue to be applied.
- Closing of school and suspension of selected events to prevent congregation of large groups of people.
Alert Black
- High rates of severe disease and deaths. Emergency measures implemented to bring the situation under control.
- Healthcare and social support systems are overwhelmed by the pandemic. Economic activities are severely disrupted.
- Strategy is to ensure that medical & public health measures take precedence over social & economic considerations.
- Focus is to contain the “damage” and regain control of the situation, Drastic measures like stopping all social events may be implemented.
The majority of measures are as in Alert Red plus the following action:
- Suspend all public gatherings, schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) closures.
- Issue advisory to public to stay home or even consider imposing curfew.
http://www.crisis.gov.sg/FLU/Alert+System.htm
Signs & symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1)
Just like the seasonal flu, Influenza A (H1N1) infection in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) infection may include the following:
- High fever
- Cough
- Muscle pains
- Sore throat
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
See your family doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following warning signs:
- Breathing difficulty
- Confusion
- Persistent vomiting
- Sudden dizziness
- Complications
Influenza A (H1N1) infection can be serious and life threatening. Deaths from pneumonia and respiratory failure have been reported with severe Influenza A (H1N1) infection
Treatment
There are antiviral medications available to treat and/or prevent Influenza A (H1N1) infection. Anti-viral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) are recommended for the treatment of Influenza A (H1N1) infection. These medications, when taken early in the course of infection (within 2 days of the appearance of symptoms) may:
- reduce the severity of the infection with faster recovery from the illness.
- prevent serious flu complications.
Prevention
One of the ways to protect against Influenza A (H1N1) infection is to prevent its spread. Since the illness occurs through direct contact with infectious material and respiratory secretions, it is important to practise good personal hygiene. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
1. Cover Your Nose and Mouth
o With a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose the tissue properly in the trash after use.
2. Wash Your Hands
o Regularly and thoroughly with soap and water.
o Before and after preparing food
o After going to the toilet
o Before and after eating
o After blowing your nose
o After using your hand when coughing or sneezing.
3. Contain the Spread of Flu
o Use a serving spoon when sharing food from a common dish.
o Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes and towels.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
o If you are sick, avoid crowded areas and wear a surgical mask.
o Stay at home and do not go to work or school if ill.
o See your family doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and if you have recently travelled to areas with cases of Influenza A (H1N1) flu.
4. Build Up Your Immunity
o If you are a smoker, quit smoking. It harms you and your family.
o Take more fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are the most power-packed combination of nutrients your body needs for good health.
o Drink the equivalent of 8 glasses of fluid daily.
o Engage in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on 5 or more days a week.
o Learn to relax and rest.
5. Keep Your Environment Clean
o Do not throw leftover food on the floor or in the open.
o Do not leave food in common areas for stray animals.
o Do not spit on the floor and common areas.
o Throw used masks, tissue or litter into rubbish bins