Nipah virus: Daily temperature checks for new migrant workers with West Bengal travel history
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MOM said there are a relatively small number of migrant workers from West Bengal arriving in Singapore each month.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
SINGAPORE - New migrant workers arriving in Singapore from West Bengal in India must undergo daily temperature checks, under stepped-up measures to prevent the spread of the Nipah virus.
They must also declare if they have a headache, a symptom of the virus, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Feb 3.
The moves come after the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on Jan 28 announced measures in Singapore
MOM said that as a precaution, it has beefed up surveillance measures at its on-board centre for new migrant workers, as well as dormitories.
It is also working closely with the Ministry of Health and CDA in monitoring and assessing the global Nipah virus situation, said an MOM spokesperson on Feb 6, in response to queries from The Straits Times.
Migrant workers with a travel history to West Bengal will have to monitor their own temperatures and symptoms daily for 14 days upon arrival in Singapore.
They are advised to seek medical help if they develop symptoms, which include fever, headache, vomiting, cough, breathing difficulties, seizures, confusion and disorientation. Symptoms typically appear after an incubation period of five to 14 days.
Workers who have been to West Bengal and have symptoms of the virus will be isolated and assessed by a medical professional for treatment.
MOM said there is a relatively small number of migrant workers from West Bengal arriving in Singapore each month.
Currently, all newly arrived migrant workers at MOM’s on-board centre must sanitise their hands, wear surgical masks and have their temperature taken upon arrival, said the ministry.
There is an on-board centre at Sengkang West that provides residential onboarding programme for all newly arrived migrant workers from the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors, said MOM on Feb 6.
They must also fill in a health questionnaire to check for symptoms such as fever, cough, rash and runny nose, it said. Having a headache has now been added as a symptom.
The ministry said that for migrant workers already residing here, existing healthcare arrangements remain in place through its primary care medical centres for those who are unwell.
There are 10 medical centres and 12 partner clinics for migrant workers across Singapore, MOM said. They are operated by SATA CommHealth, Fullerton Health, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital and HMI Medical.
The MOM spokesperson said: “MOM has advised primary care providers to increase vigilance for migrant workers who display Nipah-like symptoms or have had recent travel history to West Bengal.
“Migrant workers would also be reminded to maintain good personal hygiene practices like hand washing and the wearing of masks when unwell.”
Advisories have been disseminated to the migrant worker community in their native languages through the FWMOMCare app, as well as to employers, MOM said.
Dormitory operators are also guided on handling suspected cases, such as prompt reporting and isolation before taking them to a medical facility, it added.
MOM earlier issued an advisory to employers urged employers to advise their domestic workers
Singapore is one of several places where precautions have been ramped up after the virus outbreak in West Bengal.
The Republic and Hong Kong have implemented temperature screening at airports
In Thailand, airports now have designated parking bays for flights arriving from areas with Nipah infections, and passengers must complete health declarations before clearing immigration.
So far, there have been only two confirmed Nipah cases
