As the pneumonia outbreak enters its third week, the health chief says the government has re-assessed the situation
Calling the pneumonia outbreak 'very alarming' the health minister said yesterday the government would give it 'top priority' while unveiling a four-point plan to control its spread.
Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong made the remarks as the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) continued unabated as it entered its third week, with the number rising to 260 confirmed and five suspected cases.
Two more people died yesterday, bringing the death toll to 10. The latest fatalities were an elderly man who had a blood disease and a man in his 40s suffering from hepatitis.
Dr Yeoh said the government had re-assessed the situation and looked at how things were evolving, having taken into consideration the concerns expressed by the various sectors of the community.
'This public health issue is going to be one of the top priorities of the government in the days ahead. It will be based on public health perspective,' he said.