SINGAPORE yesterday declared a "new war" against the spectre of swine flu.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told reporters that Singapore was better prepared than it was six years ago, when it battled the Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak that killed 33 people here.
However, there is no place for complacency as this would be a different war and the new enemy is "much more difficult" to deal with than Sars, he said.
The swine-flu virus spreads at a faster rate and - unlike the Sars virus - a swine-flu victim is infectious even before symptoms appear. This means border controls are not "foolproof" as infected victims might slip through undetected.
Therefore, it is only "a matter of time" before swine flu reaches our shores, said Mr Khaw. Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng noted at the press conference: "We are a very open society. Many people come to Singapore and Singaporeans travel overseas."
There have been at least 152 confirmed deaths from swine flu in Mexico. Mr Khaw had one final warning: A pandemic usually happens in waves.
The initial wave of cases may seem "mild" but if Singapore lets its guard down, the next wave could be "lethal". So this battle is likely to be long-drawn and "wemust be mentally, physically and psychologically prepared", he said.
As of yesterday at noon, Singapore saw 17 referred cases, with 14 diagnosed with normal flu and three cases still pending.
On the economic front, Singapore also seems likely to sustain damage because of the disease.
Though the worst may be over for the economy after its deepest contraction in the first quarter, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said the swine-flu outbreak clouds the outlook for this year.
