Combating SARS and H1N1 : Insights and Lessons From Singapore’s Public Health Control Measures

Managing the outbreak of infectious diseases is a major public health imperative for the small island-state of Singapore. In this paper, we discuss and assess the Singaporean government’s public health measures to combat the 2003 SARS and the 2009 H1N1 pandemics. Crucially, the government established a clear line of command and control to execute drastic public health control measures at three main fronts: healthcare providers, community levels, and at border-crossings. Key characteristics of these public health control measures are case management, outbreak control, surveillance, public education, temperature screening, and, as a last resort, quarantine. By providing a chronological account of the public health control measures introduced to combat SARS and H1N1 in Singapore, this paper seeks to add to the body of knowledge on pandemic management