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May 6, 2009

H1N1 FLU OUTBREAK

Right move to raise alert

By Diana Othman

THE move to raise the outbreak alert level for H1N1 flu from yellow to orange last Thursday was the right decision, even if many may have felt that the Government reacted too quickly, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

'You have to be very quick because if your public health measures are to be of any effect. It must be quick, it must be overreacting, it must not under-react,' said Mr Khaw at a media briefing to update the flu situation in Singapore on Wednesday.

While the H1N1 virus has killed 30 people, infected more than 1,500 and spread to 22 countries, the new flu has mostly affected communities in Mexico and the US and seems less potent than earlier feared.

Mr Khaw conceded that Singapore could not 'over-react' for too long as this would create the problem of 'crying wolf', and to stay on high alert is not sustainable over long periods of time.

But he sought to explain that if people ignore the issues at hand and do not prepare for an outbreak, they might find it difficult to respond to an even higher alert status above orange. He suspected one of the reasons the second wave in past outbreaks was more lethal because of complacency.

'As the first wave is mild and guards are down...when the real thing comes, we are not ready so we have to take that into account,' said Mr Khaw.

He added that if Singapore needs to maintain the orange alert level in the next six months, it would do so - but if there is evidence that this is not necessary, then it must be 'reduced'.

'Orange last week was correct and the beginning of yellow this week is also correct because...it is about risk management and probability and, of course, with more information, we can be more confident,' he said.

The minister commended Singaporeans and the public for their spontaneous response to the Orange alert, even though it has inconvenienced many including patients, visitors and returned travellers.

'Singapore moved into Orange readily, without much fuss. Singaporeans did well last week... there was no panic and Singaporeans took the inconvenience in its stride,' he said.