By Ng Wan Ching

WHEN the inevitable moment finally arrived, Singapore took note - and moved on.

The menace became almost meaningless.

Sure, there was a minor rush for N95 masks and thermometers late yesterday. But, by all accounts, there was no panic.

Why? Call it the Khaw Strategy. The ground was well prepared. Peoples' minds were effectively conditioned. And reaction towards news of Singapore's first H1N1 infection became: So what else is new?

In the past five weeks, Singaporeans were told time and again by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and even Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that an infection was only a matter of time.

And now that Singapore has its own Patient Zero, it almost seems like a relief.

Even Miss Theresa Wee's boyfriend, who has been quarantined at CDC 2 for being in close contact with a confirmed case, is unfazed.

He's treating the quarantine period as a good time to catch up on his sleep.

So what should Singapore's report card on its first real test of H1N1 infection look like?

Full marks to the Health Minister for priming every one so well that the appearance of the first case is almost a non-event.

As Mr Khaw Boon Wan said: 'We know that sooner or later we will have our first case (of H1N1 flu) and now we do.

'I suppose we have been lucky - we have (had) now five weeks since the alert to prepare ourselves, as well as Singaporeans, for this eventuality. So there should really be no cause for alarm.'

Full marks also to first H1N1 case Miss Wee, a 22-year-old Singapore Management University student.

She had heeded the messages from Ministry of Health and Mr Khaw. She went straight to the doctor when she felt unwell and revealed her travel history.

She did not go shopping or go to the movies. She did not mingle in crowded places.

Her lecturer, who had travelled with her, described her as being 'most responsible'. She had kept him updated about her condition all the way.

Full marks to Dr Koh Chong Cheng, the GP who first saw Miss Wee and called 993 to send her straight to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Said Mr Khaw yesterday: 'I'll praise him and give him 10 upon 10. Good judgment and also alert, because the patient could just walk past and that's it. (Or he could have) sent her back or ask her to go to Tan Tock Seng (hospital) herself.'

Miss Wee's boyfriend also deserves high marks. He decided on his own to isolate himself to avoid exposing his friends and family to the virus.

But there are those who have failed miserably in this, Singapore's first test on the H1N1 virus. They are the empty, but loud talking, heads online who chose to slam Miss Wee with their typically unkind comments.

The first case was going to happen. That was never in doubt. It was a matter of time.

It is how you deal with it that counts.

This article was first published in The New Paper.