MOH: Orange Alert due to Swine Flu

Seems like our Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an Orange Alert as of 30 Apr 2009 evening, due to the Swine Flu (or Mexican Flu).

According to MOH:

• Temperature screening and screening for flu like symptoms for visitors to clinical care areas would be implemented. Hospital staff are required to don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in all areas with patient contact. The number of visitors would also be restricted to one visitor per patient. This will help facilitate contact tracing and reduce unnecessary risk exposure in the hospitals.
  
  
• Those with a travel history to Mexico over the past seven days will be quarantined for seven days when they enter Singapore and undergo phone surveillance for symptoms for Mexican Flu.
  
  
• Members of the public who are returning from other affected areas (ie states of New York, California, Kansas and Texas in the United States and the state of Nova Scotia in Canada) are advised to stay at home for seven days upon return and check themselves for symptoms for Mexican Flu. They should practice social distancing and refrain from joining mass gatherings, e.g. going to the cinemas, shopping malls, or supermarkets etc. Those who develop respiratory illness with fever (Temperature > 38 degrees celcius) within seven days after their return should put on a surgical mask, call 993 for an ambulance. They should also disclose their travel histories to their doctors.
  
  
• MOH also encourages schools, workplaces and places of mass gathering to conduct temperature checks routinely. Those with a higher-than-normal temperature should be advised to seek treatment immediately.

Globally, the following countries have been affected as of 30 Apr 2009:

• Mexico
• United States
• Canada
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• New Zealand
• Israel
• Costa Rica
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Peru

Seems like the deaths are not confined to Mexico. USA has reported 1 death. It just makes me wonder why these kind of diseases come when there's a recession. Previously was the Asean Financial Crisis (SARS), now this Global Financial Crisis (SWINE). I wonder if it's because something has been fed to the animals during recessions (to cut cost) that caused this? The super hot weather these few weeks doesn't help either.

More information on the Mexican Flu can be found at MOH website.