SINGAPORE will now track the progress of H1N1 in two ways, following a decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that countries need not submit regular reports of cases and deaths.

The first way is to continue its influenza biosurveillance and regularly report findings locally.

Second, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will report the number of confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Patients with mild symptoms have been able to go home to recuperate with medical certificates, and advisories on how they can take care of themselves and their families.

Based on the current mild clinical picture of H1N1, contact tracing and home quarantine orders are also generally not required.

As of today, there were 85 confirmed H1N1 cases in hospitals, including one in ICU.