Singapore’s major hospital went on ”heightened alert” for severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) following reports of seven health-care workers in Hong Kong developing flu-like symptoms last week, a spokesperson said on Monday.
Any patient who has been to Hong Kong will be confined in an isolation ward at Singapore General hospital if found to have a fever or any respiratory problems, the spokesperson said.
No such patients have been detected so far.
Sars control measures, such as body temperature checks and the wearing of masks during consultations, are continuing at the facility’s accident and emergency ward.
Hospitals had stopped fever checks at several of their departments since August 1, after Sars was declared under control.
Thermal scanners are also being used at specialist outpatient clinics. Those found to be feverish will be sent to the hospital’s accident and emergency ward.
The Sars outbreak killed 33 people in Singapore.
On Thursday, five nurses and two health-care assistants at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole hospital in Hong Kong developed symptoms such as coughs, sore throats and fevers.
Twenty-four patients have been barred from leaving the Hong Kong hospital and were being monitored for Sars. — Sapa-DPA