Eleven here tested for H7N9, none positive

Eleven here tested for H7N9, none positive

SINGAPORE - Eleven people in Singapore have been tested for the H7N9 to date, and another 24 for the novel coronavirus. None have tested positive.

This was revealed by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Sunday.

Addressing questions by MPs, Mr Gan said so long as there is no sustained human-to-human transmission for H7N9 or novel coronavirus, the risk of an outbreak here will remain low.

He said hospitals here have procedures in place to manage suspected cases of both H7N9 and the novel coronavirus. Isolation beds in the intensive unit are available to manage severely ill patients.

While the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority is vigilant against the possibility of H7N9 transmission via migratory birds, Mr Gan said Singapore needs to be watchful against cases in travellers coming here.

The Ministry of Health has alerted all hospitals and doctors to look out for those with symptoms such as fever, cough and pneumonia, and a travel history to affected areas.

Since the first reports from China on March 31, there have been a total of 132 confirmed cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) infection, including 33 deaths.

The first reported case of the novel coronavirus was by the World Health Organisation in September last year. To date, there are 34 confirmed cases worldwide, with 18 deaths.


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