VZCZCXRO3724
RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA
RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC
DE RUEHGP #0495/01 1471050
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271050Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6750
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2229
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0108
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2325
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4275
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5980
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1471
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUSICWP/COMLOG WESTPAC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000495 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/IHB 
HHS FOR OGHA 
EAP/MTS - MCOPPOLA 
NEW DELHI FOR JEHRENDREICH 
BANGKOK FOR REO HOWARD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAGR EAIR CASC ETRD ECON SN
 
SUBJECT:  SINGAPORE:  FIRST H1N1 CASE CONFIRMED 
 
REF: SINGAPORE 445 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Singapore confirmed its first case of H1N1 
Influenza in a 22-year-old woman who returned from a visit to New 
York on May 26.  The Ministry of Health continues to investigate 
other suspect cases and has instituted Home Quarantine Orders for 
people found to have had close contact with a confirmed H1N1 case. 
One American citizen is under quarantine until May 31.  The Embassy 
is monitoring the local H1N1 situation closely, has initiated 
preventive measures internally (e.g., additional hygiene measures), 
and will issue an updated warden message.  End Summary. 
 
First H1N1 Case Confirmed, More Investigated 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Singapore reported its first case of H1N1 Type A Influenza on 
May 27.  Lab results confirmed late on May 26 that a 22-year-old 
woman contracted H1N1 during a ten-day visit to New York.  The woman 
is under treatment at the Communicable Disease Center at Tan Tock 
Seng Hospital and reports indicate that her close contacts will be 
quarantined and treated with antiviral medications.  The Ministry of 
Health (MOH) is urging passengers who were seated in specific rows 
on the same Singapore Airlines flight to come forward for medical 
evaluation.  MOH further reported that it is investigating three 
additional suspect cases on May 27.  To date, MOH has investigated 
48 cases.  In addition to today's H1N1 case, 39 cases tested 
negative for Influenza Type A and eight tested positive for typical 
seasonal flu strains. 
 
No Reason for Alarm, Screening Continues 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) MOH has attempted to prepare the Singapore public for the 
eventual arrival of H1N1, while noting that the severity of the 
virus does not appear to be much worse than typical seasonal flu 
(reftel).  MOH lowered its alert level from orange to yellow on May 
11 and an RMO contact indicated that Singapore will remain at the 
Yellow Alert level even with the confirmed case.  Thermal scanning 
at air, sea and land border checkpoints will continue and physicians 
have been advised to monitor closely for suspect cases and refer 
those to the Communicable Disease Center. 
 
American Citizen Traced and Quarantined 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) MFA notified Embassy's American Citizens Services (ACS) 
unit May 26 that Amcit Jason John Burtt is subject to a Home 
Quarantine Order (HQO).  Mr. Burtt confirmed to ACS that he is under 
quarantine order until Sunday, May 31, at 8:00 PM.  Burtt stated he 
was not on the Singapore Airlines flight that carried the new H1N1 
case, but rather connected to Singapore on a Vancouver-to-Tokyo 
flight in which he was seated in the vicinity of a different 
confirmed H1N1 case.  Burtt said Japanese officials contacted 
Singapore authorities and provided them with his information.  MOH 
contacted him within 24 hours of his arrival in Singapore and issued 
the HQO, he added.  (Note:  MOH has stated that it will mandate 
quarantines for people found to have had close contact with a 
confirmed H1N1 case, but not those who have simply traveled to 
"affected" areas like the United States or other areas with H1N1 
cases, such as the United Kingdom and Japan.  End Note.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Burtt relayed to ACS that he was in good spirits and has 
no flu-like symptoms at this time.  Burtt is confined at the home of 
his Singaporean fiance who was on the same flight and is also under 
quarantine.  Burtt stated he was told that he faced a minimum 
six-month prison sentence and/or SG$10,000 (US$7,200) fine if he 
violated the terms of the order.  He claimed that MOH told him 30 
people are currently under quarantine in Singapore.  He is not sure 
how many others from his flight were quarantined.   Burtt has ACS 
 
SINGAPORE 00000495  002 OF 002 
 
 
contact information should he need assistance. 
 
Embassy Response and Preventive Measures 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Embassy has reviewed its tripwires and will remain 
vigilant and monitor the local situation closely.  Announcements to 
employees and family members have been made encouraging the practice 
of good personal hygiene.  Hand sanitizer has been placed at all 
elevator vestibules, bathrooms, and the cafeteria entrance, and the 
Char Force has added a person responsible for wiping railings, door 
knobs, elevator buttons and other commonly touched surfaces in the 
Embassy.  The Embassy is sending separately to Consular Affairs an 
updated warden message with a request for overnight clearance. 
 
SHIELDS