Singapore: Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has assessed that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa poses a low public health risk to Singapore, however, as the number of reported cases continue to increase, the country is gearing up to implement additional precautionary measures.

MOH clarified that since person-to-person transmission results from direct contact with bodily fluids of those infected, and the current outbreak is limited to West Africa, and travel connectivity between Singapore and West Africa is low, it faces lesser threat, however, public awareness is critical.

To further enhance public awareness and encourage travellers to seek timely treatment if ill, MOH is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) to distribute individual Health Advisory Notices (HAN) to nationals from the affected areas at air and land checkpoints.

MOH will also be putting up health advisory posters at the arrival halls in Changi Airport to advise inbound travellers to seek medical treatment if they become unwell with sudden onset of high fever, stomach pains, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash or bleeding within three weeks of being in any of these areas.

MOH is maintaining a close contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and overseas counterparts to monitor the situation closely and ensure that public health is safeguarded.