Weekly flu cases drop to lowest this year so far

SINGAPORE: The weekly number of patients seeking treatment at polyclinics for influenza has dropped to its lowest this year so far, according to the Health Ministry.

But the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) said Singapore is now in an influenza season and is urging Singaporeans to take precautions.

The number of patients seeking treatment within the first week of September fell below the warning level at 2,179 cases.

This was after the number of patient visits rose to more than 2,800 for two consecutive weeks in July.

Channel NewsAsia understands that the Health Ministry has sent a notice to general practitioners about the latest batch of vaccination.

The CDC said patients with chronic disease can consider this new vaccination as it offers better protection.

Communicable Disease Centre’s clinical director associate professor Leo Yee Sin said: "We have type A (H3), and also type A (H1), as well as Type B influenza in circulation at this point in time. All three types of influenza can cause severe clinical illness and it can cause death in some of the patients infected with influenza.’

— CNA/ck