The new coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan continues to develop with over 400 cases in China and other countries, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea and US.
With more people infected by the virus and confirmation that the bug can be transmitted from human to human, the Ministry of Health, Singapore (MOH) has issued a health advisory, urging the public to remain vigilant and adopt good personal hygiene practices.
Travellers and members of the public should adopt the following precautions at all times:
- Avoid contact with live animals including poultry and birds;
- Avoid consumption of raw and undercooked meats;
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;
- Observe good personal hygiene;
- Practise frequent hand washing with soap (e.g., before handling food or eating, after going to the toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
- Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or runny nose;
- Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately; and
- Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.
All travellers to Wuhan should monitor their health closely and seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell, and also inform their doctor of their travel history.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases), said Singapore is far better prepared today than it was during the SARS outbreak 17 years ago, and the impact of the new virus if it was imported to Singapore was likely to be negligible.
“China’s healthcare system and disease outbreak control capabilities have also improved dramatically since 2003 and I believe they will contain the outbreak,” he said.
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