CIMB GK, the Singapore stockbroking unit of Malaysia's CIMB Bank, said on Thursday it has asked about 50 brokers to work from home after one of them was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu.

'They all sit in the same room and it's an air-conditioned place,' Chief Executive Carol Fong told Reuters. 'If there are no new cases, they will come back to work next week.'

She said operations at CIMB GK will not be seriously affected as the firm had earlier taken the precaution of making sure staff were in different rooms to avoid contagion should anyone come down with the flu.

It has 700 staff in Singapore.

The H1N1 virus has spread around the globe and the World Health Organisation has declared an influenza pandemic and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against H1N1.

Singapore has to date reported 220 cases of the flu. -- REUTERS