IT may be the first case of someone with no known links to those with the Influenza A(H1N1) catching the virus here.
A 26-year-old permanent resident from Malaysia flew to Kuala Lumpur for work on SQ108 on Sunday. That evening, he developed symptoms, and later consulted a general practitioner there.
He returned to Singapore on MI335 on Wednesday. He was seated in row 19.
When he arrived at Changi, he approached the airport staff and an ambulance took him to hospital.
The Ministry of Health said in a press release last night: "While investigations continue, our tentative assessment is that he may be our first unlinked local case as he has no travel history to a known infected area.
"He could have come into contact with one of the earlier confirmed cases here... Unless further investigations turn up evidence otherwise, and if more such unlinked cases emerge over the next few days, this would signal the beginning of community spread in Singapore."
However, the ministry added: "We have not reached such a stage yet."
It said Singapore has confirmed 11 new cases, taking the total to 77.
The other 10 cases involve travellers returning from countries with known community transmission of the virus.
Most of the cases have come in from Australia, the US or the Philippines.
So far, 27 patients have been discharged, and the remaining 50 are in hospital in a stable condition.
