KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — More than a dozen employees and residents of a home for persons with intellectual disability in Singapore have been found to have been infected with measles. This comes on the heels of earlier reported cases among residents of a dormitory for foreign workers.
There has been no evidence of a linkage between the two incidences.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health in announcing the news, emphasised that it was taking precautionary measures to curtail the further spread of the disease. This includes immediate vaccination of those who did not have proof or clear history of previous vaccinations or existing immunity and monitoring of their contacts.
The suspected cases would also be “promptly isolated and treated”.
As of date, six people from the home were hospitalised. Three persons from the dormitory were hospitalised, discharged and are no longer infectious.
Symptoms of measles include fever, red eyes, runny nose, and coughing, followed by a rash that spreads over most of the body.
A person is considered infectious as early as four days before the rash appears.
Singapore currently requires vaccinations of all resident children and advises adults to be vaccinated against measles if they not yet been.
