CNA938 Rewind - Lowering the risk of infection outbreaks in pre-schools
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CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
TB screening shows no evidence of transmission within two preschools in Toa Payoh and East Coast
SINGAPORE: One staff member who worked at MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast has tested positive for active tuberculosis, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Wednesday (Aug 20). She is a household contact of an earlier case which prompted testing across two preschools, and the agency said early results showed no evidence of TB transmission within both childcare centres. None of the children at MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast and MapleBear Toa Payoh have tested positive to date. "The exposure is more likely to have occurred in the household," CDA said. "There is currently no evidence of spread within the preschools." The staff member of MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast was clinically diagnosed with active TB on Aug 18, pending laboratory confirmation. She is currently asymptomatic, on medical leave and will be non-infectious after completing two weeks of treatment, said CDA. As a precautionary measure, CDA has contacted the preschool to identify staff and students with close and prolonged contact with the individual to offer TB screening. SCREENING FOR 115 PEOPLE Screening was conducted across the two preschools after a teacher who worked at both places was diagnosed with TB in July. Among the 115 people who were tested, 93 were screened onsite, 21 have scheduled appointments at the National TB Screening Centre (NTBSC), while one person was screened at a private laboratory. Among the 93 individuals screened onsite, 80 people – or 86 per cent – tested negative for the disease. Eight people, comprising six children and two staff members, had indeterminate results. 'This means that the results are inconclusive, and the likelihood of TB infection cannot be determined,' CDA said. 'This is not uncommon in young children as their immune responses are less mature.' The four people with indeterminate results from MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast will undergo a repeat test between Aug 19 and 27 at NTBSC. The other four people, who are from MapleBear Toa Payoh, will do a repeat test during the second round of screening at the preschool, which is scheduled on Sep 15, 10 weeks after the last date of exposure. This is to pick up any latent infections that may not be detectable in the earlier screening. Another four staff members who were screened onsite tested positive on their blood test. This most likely means that they have latent tuberculosis infection since they have no symptoms, CDA said. Those with latent tuberculosis cannot spread the disease to others. As a precaution, the staff members have been referred to the NTBSC for further evaluation to rule out active tuberculosis disease. "Once active TB disease is excluded, they will be offered preventive treatment to reduce the risk of developing active TB in the future," CDA said. Staff and parents of children who were screened on Aug 13 and Aug 15 have been informed of their screening results, and follow-up appointments have been arranged at NTBSC as needed, the agency said. "CDA continues to monitor the situation closely and is working closely with both preschools to address staff and parent concerns," it said.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Staff member found with active TB after screening at 2 pre-schools; no children diagnosed so far: CDA
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox There is 'currently no evidence of spread within the pre-schools', CDA said. SINGAPORE - A staff member at the MindChamps PreSchool in East Coast has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis after a screening of children and staff there, as well as at the MapleBear Toa Payoh. None of the children at either pre-school have tested positive so far, and there is 'currently no evidence of spread within the pre-schools', said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) in a statement on Aug 20. The agency conducted screenings at the MindChamps and MapleBear pre-schools on Aug 13 and Aug 15 respectively, after a pre-school teacher who had taught at both schools had tested positive for the disease. The staff member who was newly diagnosed from the screenings is a household contact of the pre-school teacher, which the CDA was informed about on July 15. 'The individual is currently asymptomatic and is on medical leave. She has commenced TB treatment and will be non-infectious after completing two weeks of treatment,' CDA said. As a precaution, CDA said it has started contact tracing ahead of laboratory confirmation of the results, and contacted the preschool to initiate contact tracing to identify staff and students with close and prolonged contact with the newly diagnosed case. Also, four other staff members likely have latent TB infection after their blood tests came back positive for the disease, but showed no symptoms. People with latent TB do not have symptoms and cannot spread TB to others, CDA said. A total of 115 contacts of the first TB patient were identified across both pre-schools, with 93 undergoing the screenings at the schools and 21 having scheduled appointments to do so at the National TB Screening Centre, and one screened at a private laboratory. Among the 93 tested at the schools, 80 tested negative, while eight people - six children and two staff members - had inconclusive results and will undergo testing again.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
NDR2025: Singapore to take nationwide enforcement action against vaping, treat it as drug issue, Singapore News
The Government is set to go tougher on vaping, with more severe penalties such as jail time for sellers, as well as supervision and rehabilitation for users. 'So far we've treated vaping like tobacco — at most we impose a fine. But that's no longer enough,' said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 17). 'We will treat this as a drug issue, and impose much stiffer penalties.' While vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) still seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and their related components between January 2024 and March 2025. This is a significant spike from the $95,460 worth of seizures across 2019. Another growing concern is the rise of popularity of the Kpod variant, which is vape products laced with the anaesthetic agent etomidate, or drugs such as ketamine. HSA detected 28 cases where e-vaporiser pods were found to contain etomidate within the first half of 2025, which is nearly three times as many cases detected in 2024. Out of the over 100 vapes that were seized and randomly tested, one-third of them were found to contain etomidate. 'Jail sentences' Medical experts previously told AsiaOne that etomidate through vaping can lead to increased anxiety, seizures, erratic or zombie-like behaviour. PM Wong said that the Government is taking much tougher actions against vaping due to concerns of 'stronger and far more dangerous drugs' inside e-vaporiser pods in the future. 'This means jail sentences and more severe punishments for those who sell vapes with harmful substances,' he said. 'For those addicted to vapes, we will provide supervision and rehabilitation to help them quit'. The prime minister's remarks come after the authorities have stepped up enforcement action, and are looking into strengthening the current legislation around vaping. On July 30, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that officers from his ministry will assist HSA with enforcement efforts, including the supervision, treatment and rehabilitation of etomidate abusers. The authorities are also expected to list etomidate as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Etomidate is currently classified as a poison and regulated under the Poisons Act. Under this law, abusers face only a fine. Sellers face possible jail time of up to two years. Once etomidate is listed as a Class C drug, users can be subjected to supervision and mandatory participation in a rehabilitation programme or committed to drug rehabilitation centres, like what drug abusers undergo. Repeat offenders can be jailed for at least a year. More severe penalties will also apply to those selling, distributing or importing these devices, including up to 20 years' jail and caning. Stepping up public education on vaping risks Besides stepping up nation-wide enforcement, the Government will also mount a 'major' public education drive - starting in schools and institutes of higher learning and also during national service. 'The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health (MOH) will lead the efforts, but this will be a robust whole-of-government exercise,' he said. 'The ministries will share more details soon.' MOH and HSA previously said that about 2,600 students were referred to HSA by schools and IHLs from January 2024 to March 2025 for vaping. This is more than the 800 cases in 2022, 900 cases in 2023 and 2,000 cases in 2024. chingshijie@
