VZCZCXRO8893
RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGP #0518/01 1540116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030116Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6769
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2330
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 000518 
 
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 EAIR CASC ECON SN
 
SUBJECT:  SINGAPORE:  SEVEN H1N1 CASES CONFIRMED, AMCIT 
RECOVERED 
 
REF: SINGAPORE 495 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Singapore has seven confirmed cases of 
H1N1 Influenza as of June 1.  Three of the early cases, 
including an active member of the U.S. military, 
recovered and have been released from the hospital.  Six 
of the seven cases were contracted during travel to the 
United States.  MFA has notified Embassy of 23 American 
citizens quarantined since May 27 due to close contact 
(airplane seating) with confirmed H1N1 cases, but many 
have already been released.  Six university students were 
released from quarantine early June 2, but two other 
American citizens remain at GOS expense at a temporary 
quarantine facility.  Several others remain under home 
quarantine orders.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) intends 
to work with the Genome Institute of Singapore to map the 
H1N1 virus genome and study the behavior of the virus. 
Thermal scanning continues at air, sea and land border 
checkpoints and healthcare facilities, but MOH may decide 
to relax some containment measures such as contact 
tracing if the virus weakens.  End Summary. 
 
Seven Confirmed Cases as of June 1 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has 
confirmed seven cases of H1N1 Influenza as of 1900 on 
June 1, after identifying its first case on May 26 
(reftel).  Six of the seven had returned from recent 
travel in the United States, while the seventh returned 
from travel to the Philippines.  All seven have had 
relatively mild symptoms and three patients have been 
released from the Communicable Disease Center at Tan Tock 
Seng Hospital (TTSH) where they were held in quarantine. 
The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has urged 
passengers that were sitting in specific rows on the same 
flights as confirmed cases to come forward for medical 
evaluation.  MOH has investigated 60 suspect cases and 
found seven with H1N1; ten that tested positive for 
typical seasonal flu; and 43 cases that tested negative 
for Influenza A.  MOH continues to conduct contact 
tracing and quarantine those with close contact with a 
confirmed H1N1 case. 
 
Active Duty Member of U.S. Military Infected 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A 28-year old American woman, an active duty 
member of the U.S. military assigned to COMLOGWESTPAC in 
Sembawang port, was among the first three confirmed H1N1 
cases after being diagnosed with the virus on May 28 
following travel to California and Hawaii.  She was 
quarantined at TTSH following her diagnosis, but was 
released from the hospital May 31 after testing free of 
the H1N1 virus.  According to military contacts at 
Sembawang, three other U.S. military personnel that had 
close contact with the servicewoman are in home 
quarantine mandated by the MOH.  None has shown symptoms 
of H1N1 and could be released June 3.  At least ten other 
Americans are currently under quarantine, either at the 
Aloha Chalets temporary quarantine facility, or at home 
or hotels.  Six New York University students who had been 
seated next to Singapore's first H1N1 case on a flight 
from New York were released from quarantine June 2. 
 
Quarantine Enforcement and Accommodations Spotty 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Amcits under home quarantine orders (HQO) have 
reported varying levels of enforcement and services. 
Some had cameras installed in their homes to monitor 
their stay, while others are simply phoned daily to check 
on their compliance.  Some were told to call MOH if they 
needed food delivery (those at Sembawang have received 
three meals daily from MOH) but others were told to have 
 
SINGAPORE 00000518  002 OF 002 
 
 
friends deliver food to their doorstep.  One hotel 
quarantine case was told to order room service at GOS 
expense but was also authorized to leave her room to 
obtain food if room service was not available. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Americans quarantined at GOS expense at Aloha 
Chalets - hostel-quality accommodations - complained of 
insects in their rooms, small and inappropriate food 
portions, and a lack of television, snacks, international 
phone calling capability, and perhaps most importantly, a 
lack of information.  Embassy consular section provided 
all Amcits quarantined at Aloha Chalets with hotline 
contact information for MOH and a direct number for the 
management of Aloha Chalets to address their concerns. 
On May 29, Embassy provided books and magazines to each 
quarantined Amcit.  Aloha management has also provided 
laptops with wireless Internet connectivity and improved 
food portions.  Currently, two American citizens remain 
under quarantine in Aloha Chalets. 
 
MOH Anticipates More Cases in Singapore 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Anticipating more cases of H1N1 Influenza in 
Singapore, MOH has opened a second wing at the 
Communicable Disease Center at TTSH to accommodate any 
additional patients.  MOH provided free flu shots to 
approximately 600 private physicians and clinic 
assistants in order to protect them against seasonal 
influenza strains.  It was a one-time gesture of 
"goodwill" to healthcare workers on the "front line," 
according to press reports that indicated most physicians 
typically vaccinate themselves and their staff.  The 
vaccines will not protect against H1N1, but will help 
reduce incidence of other flu infections which could 
obscure a wider outbreak of H1N1. 
 
MOH and Genome Institute Study 
------------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (U) Minister of Health KHAW Boon Wan said in a May 29 
press interview that the Ministry will work with the 
Genome Institute of Singapore to study H1N1 samples and 
map the virus genome.  The objectives of the study will 
be to ascertain whether the virus in Singapore is 
identical to what is spreading in other areas; determine 
whether the virus is mutating; and if it is mutating to 
determine whether it is weakening or becoming more 
lethal.  If the study shows that the virus is weakening 
and has self-limiting properties like other seasonal-flu 
strains, MOH may consider relaxing some of the current 
containment measures in place, such as contact tracing. 
 
SHIELDS