Singapore watching four diseases as part of pandemic preparedness

Covid-19, bird flu and mpox among those on MOH's radar amid year-end travel season

- Zhaki Abdullah

The health authorities in Singapore are keeping watch on four diseases, including Covid-19, H5N1 and mpox, as part of efforts to prepare the Republic for another pandemic.

In posts on his Facebook and Instagram accounts on Dec 21, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the health authorities are also keeping a close watch on developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a mysterious disease has killed 6 per cent of patients, mostly children.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 592 have been infected and at least 37 have died as a result of the disease.

"That is why Singapore decided to donate surveillance equipment to the African CDC, and is prepared to provide relevant training to healthcare personnel in Africa," Mr Ong said.

He said Singapore's antennae are especially sensitive during the year-end travel season, adding that H5N1 - otherwise known as avian influenza or bird flu - is posing the highest pandemic risk.

The United States had earlier this week reported its first severe case of the disease. A 65-year-old who had been in contact with an infected flock of birds in the state of Louisiana is in critical condition in hospital.

Of the 61 cases reported in the US so far, Mr Ong noted, most had direct contact with animals such as birds or cattle. It suggests the possibility of animal-to-human transmissions.