SG50
50 Years of Singapore Pride
SARS
"SARS was a very important event
And many countries have learned from SARS
The SARS event gave them additional impetus
and the sense of urgency for them to really
revise the International Health Regulations"
Margaret Chan
Director-General, World Health Organisation
After the first few infections, the Health Ministry decided to take concrete measures to mitigate the outbreak. Firstly, they designated Tan Tock Seng Hospital as the SARS treatement centre. Anyone with SARS was to be sent there as soon as possible. Secondly, a SARS hotline was set up. There was even a dedicated TV channel for SARS which advised people on the disease. Thirdly, routine checks were carried out on flight entering Singapore, especially those arriving from China and Hong Kong.
SARS first reached Singapore in late February 2003 when three women caught the disease while staying in Hong Kong. Two recovered without infecting any other people. However, the other woman, Esther Mok, infected 22 more people (see left).
On 31 May 2003, WHO removed Singapore from their list of SARS infected areas.
In the end,
238 people
were infected with SARS
33 people
died
"I hope that we never have to go through such an episode again. But if it ever does happen, I trust that we will support one another, and fight to win the battle just as we did with SARS."
-PM Lee Hsien Loong 10 years on
In 2009, a new pandemic emerged, H1N1.
However, only 18 people died from H1N1 in 2009
