Khaw says communal spread of H1N1 likely to happen soon

Singapore has confirmed its fifth case of the Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus.

The patient is a 22-year-old Singaporean woman who had travelled to the US from May 13 to 28. Some 20 contacts, including five family members and 15 flight passengers, have been identified for home quarantine via contact tracing. But the Health Ministry has so far managed to contact only four of the 15 passengers.

Mr Khaw said: "As some experts in WHO put it, one-third of mankind will be infected over the next two years. One-third of mankind in Singapore means one million people will be down with it."

As of Sunday, the Ministry has served 82 Home Quarantine Orders (HQOs) to close contacts of the five confirmed cases. 68 others who have been in close contact with the affected patients are already out of the country. The Ministry has also lined up other facilities for quarantine purposes, if needed.