(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-25 14:36

As increasing bird flu outbreaks have been reported across the world with a majority of the human infection and death cases occurring in Southeast Asia, Singapore is stepping up efforts to keep the H5N1 virus out of its door.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned early this month that Singapore is likely to be one of the worst-hit countries if a bird flu pandemic breaks out.

Fortunately enough, no such case has been found here so far.

Since birds, especially migratory species, are to blame for transmitting the disease, Singapore has doubled the avian flu tests on wild and migratory birds from once every two weeks to once a week since mid-November.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has been partnering the National Parks Board (NParks) in monitoring possible avian flu virus among local avifauna and some 20,000 migratory birds swarming into the city state during the winter months.

The AVA said that such weekly tests will continue as long as countries in the region are affected by the disease.

In the well-known Jurong Bird Park, home of more than 9,000 captive birds, flu jabs have been given to both avian and human staff, and disinfecting floor mats are ready for visitors in case they step on droppings when they get up close with the birds.

This tourist attraction even raises 19 chickens in individual cages around the park at present. These fowls, which are bred without any immunity, serve as sentries in the park's warning system against bird flu and other infectious diseases.

Apart from conducting surprise checks on pet bird shops island- wide, the AVA also demanded local farms to take biological security measures against the bird flu virus to prevent poultry raised there from getting infected.

Since September this year, the AVA has implemented new rules to tighten control over bird imports from bird-flu-free countries, which require importers to isolate the birds for three weeks and test them for bird flu in the origin country and to have them tested by the AVA again after they arrive in Singapore.

Bird imports from countries where bird flu cases have been reported are strictly banned.

On the human front, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has assured the public that Singapore is ready to tackle any risk with a rapid Disease Outbreak Response System (DORS) in place.

Manpower and resources like isolation facilities in hospitals have been increased to boost the country's operational emergency preparedness capabilities, while companies have been urged to have a business continuity plan, according to the minister.

The government also outlined a priority plan which said that front-line medical staff and those involved in essential services like power and public order will get anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu first in case of a bird flu pandemic to "keep society functioning and buy time".

The island state is building up its stockpile of anti-viral drugs as a further 620,000 boxes of Tamiflu are expected to arrive in a year. The current supplies are enough to treat 430,000 people, more than one tenth of its population, local media said.

After the Ministry of Health (MOH) urged people to go for flu vaccinations in late October as the seasonal flu outbreak approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, Singapore experienced a temporary shortage of human flu vaccine earlier this month.

Assuring the public that some 40,000 vaccines will be available here in batches, the MOH stressed that only those in the high-risk group such as children and the elderly should be recommended to take the vaccine since it has not been proven to protect people from bird flu.

Khaw also indicated this week that the government may consider supporting some local production of vaccines, based on the economics of such production, to ease the vaccine shortage in the face of a possible flu pandemic.

As Singapore's school holidays started from this Monday, the government has advised people not to contact with poultry and wild birds and to stay away from farms and markets selling live birds when they travel abroad.

The private sector joined the government's efforts from another approach as a Singapore-based biotechnology company launched two bird flu rapid test kits earlier this month.

The two kits, one for veterinary testing and the other for human testing, can yield a result within 10 minutes. Thus, they are expected to help prevent a bird flu outbreak by isolating infected cases as early as possible.

While the Singapore government is stepping up domestic measures, it also attaches importance to international cooperation in fighting bird flu.

During the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in South Korea, Singapore put forward initiatives and pledged full cooperation with countries like Indonesia and South Korea in this regard.

The city state also plays a significant role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which plans to redirect a fund to help the region's less-developed countries fight the disease.

Currently, Singapore's color-coded warning system is on green alert as the bird flu outbreaks are overseas and limited to birds and some humans who were in close contact with birds and poultry, and the government is sparing every effort to keep the "green light" last.