Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There are confirmed human cases of Swine Flu, Influenza A (H1N1), in Singapore with confirmed human-to-human transmission.  If you are suspected of having Swine Flu you may be instructed by health authorities to quarantine yourself within your accommodation and not to travel for a set number of days.
  
  
• If you develop flu like symptoms you are advised to visit your nearest 'pandemic preparedness clinic' (see map: http://www.street-directory.com/hpb.ppc/) and if possible wear a surgical mask and avoid public transport on the way there. If you are very ill (e.g. difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe vomiting) call 995 for an ambulance. Everyone should observe good hygiene practices such as regularly washing hands. 
  
  
• You can check for updates on Swine Flu on the Singapore government's flu alert web pages: www.crisis.gov.sg/FLU . You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page . Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk .
  
  
• You should not become involved with drugs of any kind:  possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 500,000 British tourists visit Singapore every year (Source: Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority).  Most visits to Singapore are trouble-free. 61 British nationals required consular assistance in Singapore in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (10 cases); hospitalisations (8 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (25 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (131 cases).
  
  
• There is a risk from Dengue fever in Singapore.  You should take normal precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.  See the Health section of this travel advice for more details.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.