They were the most at risk as they sat next to 22-year-old, Singapore's first H1N1 case
By
Yen Feng, Carolyn Quek & Kimberly Spykerman
Prof Chong, who started the school's New York study trips in 2005, said he knew his student was not feeling well, but did not hear of her diagnosis until Wednesday morning. -- PHOTO: SMU
FOR days, the trio travelled together, and on the plane ride home from New York, sat next to each other for more than 20 hours.
NUS, SMU won't prevent travel
THE National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Management University (SMU) will not stop their students and staff from travelling to areas that have been affected by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
However, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has suspended all its trips to Mexico indefinitely. It has no restrictions on other affected areas.
Singapore Management University (SMU) Associate Professor Mark Chong, 43, was in the seat next to his student, the 22-year-old undergraduate who a day later would become Singapore's first Influenza A (H1N1) patient.
Next to him was the victim's coursemate, Miss Linette Lim, 22. These were the two who were at the greatest risk of catching the flu strain. As of Wednesday night, both had been tested and cleared of the virus.
The H1N1 flu virus, which emerged in Mexico last month and has now spread to 48 countries, landed in Singapore when the business studies undergraduate returning from a study trip to New York walked fever-free through the thermal scanners at Changi Airport on Tuesday morning.
Her prompt diagnosis, by midnight, meant the Health Ministry lost no time directing those who had had close contact with her, such as Prof Chong and Miss Lim, to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on Wednesday.
Prof Chong, who started the school's New York study trips in 2005, said he knew his student was not feeling well, but did not hear of her diagnosis until Wednesday morning. 'I received a text message from her at 8am saying she had been confirmed as having the H1N1 flu virus. I was shocked and called her immediately,' he told The Straits Times on Wednesday night.
Shortly afterwards, said Prof Chong, the Health Ministry called him on his mobile phone confirming his student's diagnosis. He was told to stay at home for the next seven days.
Several hours later, he received another call telling him to check himself into the hospital. 'I was feeling fine, actually, but I thought, 'Okay, maybe I should go anyway'.' In a matter of minutes, he was in the back of a 933 ambulance en route to TTSH, returning home only late that night for quarantine.
Unlike Prof Chong, Miss Lim did not know her coursemate was unwell, as her friend had spent most of the journey asleep. It was only after she got a late-night call on Tuesday from her that she learnt of it.
Since then, Miss Lim has stayed at home on quarantine working on an assignment for the New York study trip. Her family members are keeping their distance by not taking meals together. 'We are never in the same space together,' Miss Lim said.
