This season, spread only good cheer

Unlike Hong Kong, we have become too lax with our habits, post-Sars


HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan's comments on Sunday ("March in step to stop disease outbreak", Dec 11) — coming on the heels of my visit to Hong Kong — made me wonder if Singaporeans have forgotten the lessons of the Sars crisis.

Mr Khaw, speaking at the opening of the annual Keystone symposia, urged governments and individuals to regain the "spirit of decisiveness and openness" they displayed during the 2003 Sars outbreak, and which they appear to have lost.

On my recent trip to Hong Kong, I was with a group of people who walked around in public wearing masks. I could only infer that they had the flu and did not want to spread the bug.

At the train stations, I heard public announcements reminding those with the flu to wear masks.

I also saw a sign that read "automatic sterilisation of hands" over a device at the hostel where I was staying. And at Hong Kong airport and the immigrant centre in Shenzhen, visitors were screened for fever.

Based on such anecdotal encounters, I cannot help but feel that people in Hong Kong have taken the lessons from the Sars epidemic far more seriously than Singaporeans have.

Here, since the Sars episode three years ago, I have encountered only one colleague who wore a mask when she had a flu.

I, for one, have been guilty of not bothering to use a mask out of self-consciousness — I am afraid of the stares I will get if I did so.

I have also given up the habit of sterilising my hands properly due to laziness. I try to justify this omission by telling myself that if sterilising facilities were provided, I would use them.

The Sars outbreak caught us by surprise and it took us some time to establish good habits and a protocol to break the chain of transmission.

With hindsight and forewarning of the potential deadliness of the avian flu, our Government has been taking proactive steps to prepare for a potential pandemic.

Contingency plans are in place, Tamiflu has been stockpiled and regular checks are conducted on wild birds. But this might not be sufficient if we do not all go back to the good habits adapted during the Sars epidemic.

It boils down to taking personal responsibility to protect the community when we are ill.

It means covering our mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing, and not spitting in public (which is a finable offence in any case).

Most important of all, we should wash our hands with soap and warm water after going to the toilet or handling live birds, raw poultry and uncooked eggs.

Three years ago, medical experts warned that there was no room for complacency when dealing with Sars and other infectious diseases.

This Christmas, as we gather for celebrations, let us remember to spread only good cheer — and not the flu virus.

This article first appeared in TODAY on 14.12.2006