SINGAPORE, March 24 (UPI) -- The number of new severe acute respiratory syndrome cases in Singapore continued to rise over the weekend, with an additional 14 cases reported Monday, bringing the total to 65, the Ministry of Health said.
The new patients include four hospital staff members and 10 close contacts of patients, including three siblings (two boys and one girl) ages 17, 13 and 5.
To date, five patients have been discharged while the remaining 60 still are hospitalized, including 12 in serious condition.
Based on the detailed analysis of the 65 cases so far, the evidence is SARS is transmitted only when a patient develops the symptoms of the illness, the ministry said, pointing out the incubation period runs three-to-seven days, though it could be up to 10 days.
Epidemiological tracking of the outbreak shows Singapore's initial three cases resulted in 21 primary contacts developing probable SARS. This latter group of patients in turn has infected 41 more cases of probable SARS.
The health ministry has announced a set of new measures to help contain the spread of SARS.
It will be invoking the Infectious Diseases Act to isolate all contacts who have been exposed to infected SARS patients. They will be required to stay at home for 10 days and to minimize contact with other people. Those who do not heed the quarantine requirement are liable for prosecution under the act. The ministry said there presently were more than 300 people on its "contact tracing list" who will be quarantined at home.
As a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health has asked for the toddler's school to be closed for 10 days. The 13-year-old girl had limited contact with her classmates during the school holidays last week. But as a precautionary measure the secondary school has asked about 200 students who might have come in contact with her to stay away from school for a week.
To protect visitors fully, the health ministry is heeding the World Health Organization's advice to stop visitations from family and friends for all SARS patients.
