OBJECTIVE: To assess the public health risk to Singapore posed by the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the Republic of Korea in 2015. METHODS: The likelihood of importation of MERS cases and the magnitude of the public health impact in Singapore were assessed to determine overall risk. Literature on the epidemiology and contextual factors associated with MERS coronavirus infection was collected and reviewed. Connectivity between the Republic of Korea and Singapore was analysed. Public health measures implemented by the two countries were reviewed. RESULTS: The epidemiology of the 2015 MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea remained similar to the MERS outbreaks in Saudi Arabia. In addition, strong infection control and response measures were effective in controlling the outbreak. In view of the air traffic between Singapore and MERS-affected areas, importation of MERS cases into Singapore is possible. Nonetheless, the risk of a serious public health impact to Singapore in the event of an imported case of MERS would be mitigated by its strong health-care system and established infection control practices. DISCUSSION: The MERS outbreak was sparked by an exported case from the Middle East, which remains a concern as the reservoir of infection (thought to be camels) continues to exist in the Middle East, and sporadic cases in the community and outbreaks in health-care settings continue to occur there. This risk assessment highlights the need for Singapore to stay vigilant and to continue enhancing core public health capacities to detect and respond to MERS coronavirus.

We conducted in-depth analysis on the use of a popular Chinese social networking and microblogging site, Sina Weibo, to monitor an avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China and to assess the value of social networking sites in the surveillance of disease outbreaks that occur overseas. Two data sets were employed for our analysis: a line listing of confirmed cases obtained from conventional public health information channels and case information from Weibo posts. Our findings showed that the level of activity on Weibo corresponded with the number of new cases reported. In addition, the reporting of new cases on Weibo was significantly faster than those of conventional reporting sites and non-local news media. A qualitative review of the functions of Weibo also revealed that Weibo enabled timely monitoring of other outbreak-relevant information, provided access to additional crowd-sourced epidemiological information and was leveraged by the local government as an interactive platform for risk communication and monitoring public sentiment on the policy response. Our analysis demonstrated the potential for social networking sites to be used by public health agencies to enhance traditional communicable disease surveillance systems for the global surveillance of overseas public health threats. Social networking sites also can be used by governments for calibration of response policies and measures and for risk communication.

The World Health Organization verified that Singapore had eliminated endemic transmission of measles in October 2018. This report summarizes the evidence presented to the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination, comprising information about immunization schedules; laboratory testing protocols and the surveillance system; and data on immunization coverage and the epidemiology of cases. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 246 laboratory confirmed cases of measles were reported. The source or country of infection was unknown for most cases (195; 79.3%). There were 22 clusters, ranging from two to five cases. The most common genotypes detected were D8 and D9. Transmission of B3 was interrupted in 2017, and H1 cases were sporadic and imported. Phylogenetic analyses of the D8 isolates showed the existence of 13 lineages or clusters. Although a few lineages were circulating concurrently, no lineage propagated continuously for a prolonged period, and transmission of each lineage eventually stopped. Although cases and clusters were reported yearly, molecular data showed that none of the lineages resulted in prolonged transmission. There were fewer measles cases in 2017 compared with 2016. The higher number of clusters was likely due to the overall increase in cases because cluster sizes remained small. The occurrence of small clusters is not unexpected since measles is highly infectious. The majority of imported cases did not result in secondary transmission. With the global increase in the number of measles cases, Singapore needs to stay vigilant and continue to promptly test suspected cases; vaccination is the key to preventing infection.