THE lecturer, the coursemate, the boyfriend and the maid: Four people who knew the Singapore Management University (SMU) undergraduate who was diagnosed with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus on Wednesday have been issued home quarantine orders (HQOs) by the Health Ministry.

Another 20 who are believed to have had close contact with her have also been asked to stay home. Of these, six are Singaporeans and 14 are foreigners. All 24 will serve their HQOs for seven days, from May 27 to June 2.

Steps to limit bug to 'slow burn' HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan hopes to limit the spread of the new flu strain here to a 'slow burn', to prevent it from becoming a 'wildfire', by using various control measures that have been put in place. Without those measures, the new virus is more likely to spread like wildfire for several reasons. ... more RELATED LINKS  The spread of H1N1

On Wednesday, a 22-year-old third-year SMU business school student, who had returned on Tuesday morning from a study trip in New York, became Singapore's first H1N1 flu patient.

Her diagnosis triggered an urgent search for others who may have been exposed - and endangered.

On Wednesday night, Associate Professor Mark Chong Yiew Kim, 43, a lecturer at SMU, and another 22-year-old third-year business student were tested at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and sent home. Both, along with the 20 others identified for quarantine, had been on the same flight as the student. The only two persons quarantined who were not on the same flight were the student's boyfriend and maid.

The boyfriend is currently warded at TTSH's Communicable Disease Centre. The maid is sequestered at the Aloha Loyang Resort in Pasir Ris. Both are reportedly doing well.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, a Health Ministry official said: 'We have accounted for all close contacts related to this H1N1 confirmed case, comprising 71 on-flight contacts and two local contacts. Among these close contacts, a total of 24 have been identified for quarantine. 'The remaining 49 close contacts are currently outside Singapore.'

The 71 on-flight contacts include four cabin crew and passengers who sat from rows 52 to 58. The H1N1 patient was sitting at row 55.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Wednesday explained the move to quarantine only those who sat near the patient: 'This is purely a precautionary step, instead of quarantining the whole plane, which is not necessary. The definition has always been close contact...So I think three rows in front, three rows behind has been our standard definition.'

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines has temporarily removed from the roster any crew member who approached the patient during the flight.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.