Swine flu and SQ

[HUGE AL]

Don't know about that, HA. Hospitals here are taking things really seriously.

I'm more concerned with you abbreviating my name!

Self medication is risky, as a incorrect dose could not only be ineffective, but it could make it easier for the virus to become resistant to treatment.

So, can I get some or not?

Thought your *or* business was booming in LA! Are you thinking of diversifying into the pharmaceutical industry now?

Don't know about legislation now with regards to export sales of medicines. 10 years ago, foreigners could get most prescription medicines from the chemists without a prescription if they're leaving the country within 24 hours.

So if you're very nice to a Singapore pharmacist, she might sell you some.

Cool. PM me the contact. Is she hot?

[MAN Flyer]

Just like what China did with SARS...

And Vietnam with Bird Flu.

I was on a UK Trade Mission with a group of 18 or so UK companies when that really kicked off over there. I got back to the Renaissance Hotel in Saigon after an overnight trip to Vung Tau to see some of the group checking out. When I asked what time their flight to Hanoi was (that being the second parts of the trip) they said 'haven't you heard ?, the mission is cancelled, everyone is going home because of this Bird Flu'.

Of course BBC News were in full flow, showing images of people in Saigon riding around with face masks on. The same thing millions of them have done every day for years due to the air quality in Saigon, and still do now.

Unfortunately it caused a small diplomatic incident as the Mission Manager happened to mention that the Embassy in Hanoi had told us not to come up, which got back to the Vietnamses authorities who protested to the FCO. She also got dragged into doing an interview on live radio back home when the story got out that we were 'stuck in the middle of it'*, and the Vietnamese cut the line in the middle of the interview.

*there was a scramble to get out but there was 8 of us on SQ and as the first flight a couple could get on was only Saturday, the rest of us decided to stay on in Saigon for 'moral support' so we had 4 days and nights on the town.

[flo]

Cool. PM me the contact. Is shehot?

Do you even have to ask? As I was once taught... any marketing novice would know the demographics of their target market

[LionCity]

Breaking news...sadly US reported its first case of death from Swine Flu. A young child died in Texas. Might be premature but not a very good sign for airtravel.

[jhm]

Hospitals here are taking things really seriously.

As evidenced by the fact that the UK has apparently stockpiled enough antivirals to treat more than half the population:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8022516.stm

[Megatop]

Can ANYONE get access to this in S'pore? I need some.

You will need a doctor's prescription before you can obtain Tamiflu in Singapore.

[Caravelle]

Double Whammy

This double whammy of the economic downturn coupled with the effect of the projected drop in the air travel traffic arising from this Swine Flu pandamonium is going to result in many airlines in already poor financial shape folding up for good.

[sfvoyage]

Breaking news...sadly US reported its first case of death from Swine Flu. A young child died in Texas. Might be premature but not a very good sign for airtravel.

This case involved a 23-month old toddler from Mexico who had flown to the US to seek treatment. She did not catch it while in the US.

[ginkoka]

hmm SQ's offering waiver of cancellation/date change fees for those flying to UK etc... but i don't think it applies to those who bought discounted tix rite?

[Lobster]

hmm SQ's offering waiver of cancellation/date change fees for those flying to UK etc... but i don't think it applies to those who bought discounted tix rite?

People flying to the US, UK, Spain and NZ can change their ticket to a later date or cancel it without having to pay a fee. This is for all tickets no matter if they are discounted or not.

However if you move your flight to a later date and there are no discounted tickets available on the flight you move to then you have to pay the fare difference between your discounted fare and the lowest fare available on the flight you want to move to.

[HUGE AL]

You will need a doctor's prescription before you can obtain Tamiflu in Singapore.

Very cool. Thanks!

[jhm]

You will need a doctor's prescription before you can obtain Tamiflu in Singapore.

Unless the law in Singapore has changed since I last did this, you can get prescription only medicines (with the exception of controlled drugs like morphine) without a prescription provided:

(i) you hold a foreign passport and show it to the pharmacist; and
(ii) you can also show an airtix departing in less than 24 hours time.

It's up to the discretion of the pharmacist whether s/he sells to you (some of them are funny about selling drugs like antibiotics even though they're allowed to) but if not, just go to another pharmacy and ask there (it's called an "export sale").

[EWR]

This double whammy of the economic downturn coupled with the effect of the projected drop in the air travel traffic arising from this Swine Flu pandamonium is going to result in many airlines in already poor financial shape folding up for good.

Pandemic or Pand[e]monium?

[Kyo]

Unless the law in Singapore has changed since I last did this, you can get prescription only medicines (with the exception of controlled drugs like morphine) without a prescription provided:

(i) you hold a foreign passport and show it to the pharmacist; and
(ii) you can also show an airtix departing in less than 24 hours time.

It's up to the discretion of the pharmacist whether s/he sells to you (some of them are funny about selling drugs like antibiotics even though they're allowed to) but if not, just go to another pharmacy and ask there (it's called an "export sale").

Sounds like I qualify, does it work even if you're working in SIN (foreign passport)?

Anyway I'll probably pay a visit to my friendly local neighbourhood doctor at lunch and get a few tabs just in case!

[SQTalker]

I am not afraid, just like during SARS.

Did not change anything other than to not travel to certain countries (not because I didn't want to but because there was too much hassle coming back)

I was actually in HK when those few Singaporeans got SARS at Metropole Hotel - and I was staying at a sister hotel of Metropole.

Was I afraid? No, pretty sure I have divine protection and if I die, I go to a better place anyway...

In other words, I would afraid this outbreak after the SARS effect. Friend of my wife, who stay in Toronto, the whole family pay a visit of their son (due to his leg injury) in one of the hospital, after they went back home, the wife got infected by SARS, but not her husband & her son, later on she died & had to cremate right away within hours of certify of the death, without her husband & her son can take a last look of her, plus without other relatives & friends can even held a funeral gathering.