SINGAPORE — A total of 17 people were infected with measles in recent weeks, including foreign workers at a dormitory in Punggol as well as employees and residents at a home for persons with intellectual disability in Hougang.

In a statement released on Tuesday (July 23), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that 14 cases were detected at Mindsville@Napiri in Hougang, while the other three cases were found at S11 Dormitory located at Seletar North Link.

MOH said: “There is currently no evidence of community spread from these cases. Nonetheless, the ministry took precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the disease.”

These measures include vaccination of close contacts who lack proof of past vaccinations or immunity, and monitoring the health of these contacts.

“All suspected measles cases will be isolated,” it added.

Urging vigilance, MOH said that measles cases around the world have increased substantially, with Singapore likely to see more cases from importation due to its travel hub status.

“MOH investigates all notified cases of measles under our surveillance programme, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“MOH has alerted general practitioners to be on the lookout for cases of measles, particularly in patients who have recently travelled overseas or who have not been vaccinated, and to notify MOH promptly.”

CLUSTER AT MINDSVILLE

Out of the 14 confirmed cases, 12 were residents and two were staff members at the home.

Six people were hospitalised — one has been discharged and the remaining five are in stable condition.

On June 29, the first reported case — a female resident — developed symptoms and received outpatient treatment on July 1 and 5.

MOH said it was notified of this suspected case on July 7.

Two days later, the resident was hospitalised and tested positive for measles. She was later discharged and is no longer infectious.

From July 19 to 20, nine cases of measles were reported, followed by four more on July 22.

MOH said that those infected were “promptly isolated and treated”.

The ministry had advised Mindsville on vaccination recommendations for those with close contact to all the patients and “enhanced infection prevention and control measures” at the home.

Employees and residents there were reminded to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene. Staff members were also asked to wear gloves and protective equipment when tending to residents showing symptoms, and to closely monitor each other and the residents for symptoms.

Residents had to be screened for symptoms before leaving the home for “essential medical appointments and other activities”.

On July 22, MOH gave the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination to all residents and staff members at Mindsville, without proof of immunity, as an added precaution.

S11 DORMITORY

Three migrant workers — two Indians and one Bangaldeshi — were found to have measles at the Punggol dormitory.

The Bangladeshi worker had recently arrived in Singapore on June 27, while the two Indian workers have no recent travel history. None of them had a clear history of vaccinations.

On July 15, MOH was notified that an Indian worker had come down with measles. The other two were later reported to the ministry on July 16 and 19.

They stayed at different blocks in the dormitory, worked at different sites and are from different companies.

“Thus far, there have been no links identified among the three cases,” MOH said, adding that it is still investigating.

The three workers were hospitalised, then discharged, and are no longer infectious.

As of July 22, around 50 roommates and co-workers of the trio have been identified as close contacts. MOH is working with the companies to conduct screening and vaccination of all their close contacts who do not have proof of vaccination or immunity, and it has also advised the firms to closely monitor their health.

To reduce the risk of further transmission of the disease, MOH said that it has started to offer MMR vaccination to all dormitory residents staying on the same floor as the trio, if they have no proof of vaccination.

“The vaccination of all contacts identified is expected to be completed by the end of this week,” it said.

MEASLES IN SINGAPORE

As of July 22, there were 116 measles cases reported to MOH this year.

Of these, 88 were Singapore residents and 28 were imported from Bangladesh, Dubai, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. 

They included a total of eight cases at Toh Guan Dormitory and Sungei Tengah Lodge last month, with no further cases reported from either workers’ dormitory since, MOH said. 

No deaths have been reported in these cases.

ABOUT MEASLES

The early symptoms of measles are fever, a runny nose, sore or red eyes, and a cough. This is followed by a rash that spreads over the body.

The disease has an infectious period that starts as early as four days before the onset of the rash up until four days after the rash appears.

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease among people who are not vaccinated, and Singapore mandates compulsory measles vaccinations of all resident children as they are at a high risk of developing complications. 

Adults are also advised to be vaccinated against measles if they have not previously done so or lack evidence of immunity to the disease, MOH said.

The vaccination is available at polyclinics, private general practitioner clinics and private paediatric clinics.