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MERS will arrive sooner or later: Singapore's health minister

Xinhua, June 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) will arrive in Singapore sooner or later due to the country's global connectivity, said Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Friday.

Gan's comment echoes with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's remarks on June 11. Lee thought that it is a "matter of time" before Singapore has its first MERS case due to its inter- connectivity, therefore the city state must get prepared for MERS.

Asked whether temperature screening at airports will be extended to passengers from Thailand, the health minister said there is protocol to follow. Currently, screening is only for those coming from MERS-infected areas such as the Middle East and South Korea.

Gan added that hospitals have been reminded repeatedly to be vigilant to the threat of MERS. Reminders have also been sent to the primary care sector, such as General Practitioners.

Thailand on Thursday confirmed its first case of MERS, a 75- year-old man from Oman. South Korea has also reported more than 160 cases. Endi