In 2003, SARS cases soared in Asia, and Singapore was horribly affected by the SARS disease. Watching from TV in the states, we saw the thousands of people wearing masks hoping to thwart the cases of SARS and protect their loved ones. Singapore had 238 cases of SARS and 33 people died here due to the respiratory disease - a huge loss for such a small country.
Saturday morning, exiting the taxi in front of the hospital in a feverish fog, I knew my test would not be performed, but instead I would cancel it and go to the 24 hour clinic. I had woke with a horrible sore throat, fever and sinus congestion. Stepping up the final step to my destination, I would be greeted by red and white police type streamers leading me to a sign in table.
At the sign in table, Steve and I were immediately given masks (I already had mine on thank-you-very-much) and asked to 'register' on paper. I knew I was in trouble when I had to check 'yes' for fever, 'yes' for flu-like symptoms, and 'yes' for congestion. I should have seen it coming...
We made it through the doors of the hospital, and into the heat sensor. He passed ("You duck down-lah please? You too tall-lah"), and I guess I might have - however, I think they were still caught off guard to have a 'possible positive' actually in their possession. We made it to the elevator; then all hell broke loose.
Some youthful spirit morphed from beyond, confirmed my identity and immediately directed me away to the wild blue yonder; I was visually escorted from the hospital corridor and hustled outside to some chairs and strictly told to stay put until further notice. While trying to shake myself from my feverish stupor - I saw the plastic police line beckoning to others that I was an obstacle to AVOID at all costs. Quiet mumblings amongst the passerby cautioned me to not look their way, and certainly not to breathe.
I have no idea how I ended up stuck in a corner of the 24 hour clinic, but I do recall blood being taken from me, then an old fashioned metal screen with linen curtains tidily quarantining me into my corner of the world. Waking occasionally from the daze with a horrible headache, I would glance around, see the aqua curtains, my hubby sitting silently at my feet reading a paper and I would decide I was still among the living - although I wondered if I should consider that good - and I would nod back out into unconsciousness.
At some point a Dr would come in with good news; I did not have H1N1 flu - it was a bacterial infection. Antibiotics would have me better in no time, and he would call later to give the results of the Malaria and Dengue Fever tests; indeed he did – they were negative. I was given proper medications, Steve paid and we were promptly shooed out the door - I am sure as they brushed the sweat off their brows.
I must have been their first scare since SARS.
I must say, if anyone is ready for the swine flu, Singapore is ready. SARS was their first rodeo, and it has them ‘one up’ on everyone else. If I had not been so ill, it would have been an eye opening experience; as it was, I think it was a frightening nightmare… lol… I felt disoriented, alienated and promptly put out to pasture to nurse my non H1N1 flu wounds.
Thankfully, I am on the mend now, and I hold no ill feelings towards those on that day – heck I barely even remember what happened anyway – just the bizarreness of it all. They were all very courteous, just very professionally getting me out of there as quickly as possible. I know the SARS scare has them on top notch surveillance, and they are indeed on the ball. I was effectively handled with tweezers and set by the curb to recover at my own speed. Again, I think I was their first case since SARS and they were overly cautious.
Rest assured, no H1N1 flu will get by those doors ;-)
