CHOLERA AT PELANGI HOME (Measures to prevent recurrence)

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi asked the Minister for the Environment what was the cause of the cholera outbreak at Pelangi Home recently and what measures are being taken to prevent further occurrences in this and other welfare institutions.

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for the Environment (a) what caused the cholera outbreak at Pelangi Home resulting in the death of one inmate and 17 others being warded; (b) whether this was the first outbreak in the Home; and (c) what steps have been taken to ensure that there will be no further outbreaks in Homes.

The Minister for the Environment (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your permission to reply to Question 6 as well because the two questions are similar?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: The cause of the recent outbreak of cholera in Pelangi Home has not yet been established. Investigations are still in progress. A total of 19 residents came down with cholera and one of them died.

Food was not prepared in the Home. All the meals were supplied by a licensed caterer. No cholera germs were detected in any of the food samples collected and all the food handlers screened were found to be free from cholera-carrier state. The water supply to the Home was safe and there was no evidence of it being contaminated with cholera germs. The Home was well maintained and the sanitation in the Home including the toilets were generally satisfactory.

The Pelangi Home is an institution for burnt-out mental patients discharged from Woodbridge Hospital. Many of the inmates are not capable of ensuring good personal hygiene. It is likely that the poor personal hygiene of the inmates led to the rapid spread of infection within the Home after one of them came down with cholera.

The Pelangi Home has been in existence for the past three years and no cholera case or outbreak has previously been reported.

The key to the prevention and control of cholera outbreak in the Home and other welfare institutions is maintenance of a high standard of environmental sanitation. Staff in these institutions should pay special attention to the personal and food hygiene of the inmates. They have also to actively look out for diarrhoeal cases among the inmates and isolate them immediately at the Communicable Disease Centre of Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, after giving such advice to the Homes concerned, may I ask of the Minister for the Environment what follow-up action will be taken to ensure compliance?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker Sir, we do take follow-up action. Environmental health officers of my Ministry are now conducting monthly visits on the Home and they will continue to do so for at least another six months to ensure that the required standard of cleanliness and hygiene is maintained.