Singapore starts temperature screening for travellers from South Korea from June 9

Tourists wearing face masks walk through Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday, June 8, 2015. To detect Mers-CoV cases early, Singapore will start temperature screening at air checkpoints for passengers arriving from S
Tourists wearing face masks walk through Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday, June 8, 2015. To detect Mers-CoV cases early, Singapore will start temperature screening at air checkpoints for passengers arriving from South Korea starting from Tuesday at 7pm. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

SINGAPORE - Singapore will start temperature screening at air checkpoints for passengers arriving from South Korea starting from Tuesday at 7pm.

This is in light of the worsening Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) situation there and the reported breaches in containment and quarantine measures.

The Ministry of Health announced this late Tuesday afternoon. Health advisories will also be issued to these travellers.

For passengers arriving from the Middle East, temperature screening at air checkpoints have been in place since May 18, 2014.

So far, seven people in South Korea have died of the virus and close to 100 have been infected.

In its statement, MOH said that while there have been no local cases so far, the possibility of an imported case cannot be ruled out due to globalised travel patterns.

"However, even if there is an imported case, the risk of an outbreak in our community remains low as sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been reported," it added.

In South Korea, the virus has been spread through either hospital contact or to close family members.

MOH added that those travelling to Mers-affected areas should take simple precautions such as observing good hygiene.

Those who have been to these areas in the past fortnight and find themselves unwell should see a doctor and disclose their travel history.

They may also be isolated for up to 48 hours for observation and further investigation.

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