THE family of a young man who caught the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has been rocked by a flurry of online fuss slamming him for acting irresponsibly by riding on the MRT despite having flu symptoms.

The 18-year-old, who returned on an Emirates flight from Melbourne last Monday night, checked himself into a hotel on arrival as a precaution as he had mild flu symptoms then. He had also been in contact with two H1N1 suspects in Australia.

NO CLEAR SIGNALS 'We wanted to be civic-minded, but no one pointed us in the right direction. We tried our best, but doctors we consulted seemed to think we were over-reacting.' The victim's sister, who is now quarantined at home along with her husband ... more

But after a general practitioner told him he probably had only the seasonal flu, and also being told by the Health Ministry's (MOH) ambulance hotline that he should see his GP again before calling for the ambulance, the youth decided it was safe enough for him to take the train when he next visited the doctor.

The two-minute ride from Serangoon to Kovan MRT stations on Wednesday morning has now subjected him to much public criticism.

Members of online forums have labelled him 'inconsiderate' and 'selfish' as they felt he could have spread the virus to a large number of people.

However, the boy's older sister told The Straits Times on Sunday that her brother did so only because everyone they called about his condition treated it as if he had only the seasonal flu. 'Everyone dismissed his condition as normal,' she said.

Her husband said the GP they saw did not even suggest they wear a face mask. On the three occasions - when the youth saw the GP on Tuesday and Wednesday and when he called 993 on Wednesday morning - Melbourne had not yet been listed as an affected area.

It was only on Wednesday night that the Australian city was added to MOH's list which also includes the United States, Canada and Kobe and Osaka in Japan.

Travellers returning from affected areas who develop flu symptoms are immediately taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Emergency Department for tests.

The boy's sister added that her brother took the train because he could not get a taxi at that time. 'We stay very near the MRT station and we thought it was a short trip during off-peak hours.' Her husband added: 'We were all trying to observe protocol but we got mixed signals from the doctors.'

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