The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) will be stepping up precautionary measures against measles, including through contact tracing for infected cases, and mandatory isolation for confirmed cases.
The measures come in response to the recent rise in measles infections in Singapore and globally.
Singapore recorded 11 cases in January 2026, compared to two cases in January 2025, CDA said in a Feb. 6 press release.
In all 11 cases, the people infected were not fully vaccinated.
They included three infants under 12 months old who were not yet eligible for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Among the 11 cases, all except for one live in Singapore. Seven of the cases had travelled overseas recently.
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung highlighted a “concerning” discovery from the laboratory tests: in three cases, the measles viruses were similar, but the patients have no known contact with each other.
“This suggests quiet, unknown transmission in the community,” he wrote on Facebook.
Epidemiological investigations are ongoing.
Around the world, 11 million measles infections were reported by World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 800,000 cases.
Enhanced measures
To contain and prevent the further spread of measles, Singapore will be introducing precautionary public health measures.
Confirmed cases will go through mandatory isolation until they are no longer infectious, either in the hospital or at home.
Random video call checks will be conducted throughout their period of isolation to ensure compliance.
Contact tracing will also be conducted for all infected cases.
Close contacts who are at high-risk — such as young infants, non-immune pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals — will be offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves administering the MMR vaccine.
Additionally, unvaccinated close contacts will be placed under quarantine for up to 21 days to minimise the risk of community transmission.
The quarantine will happen at home unless their home is assessed to be unsuitable, and there will be random video call checks during this period to ensure they remain at home.
They can end their quarantine if they complete their vaccinations, administered PEP, or are tested to be immune during the process.
However, those who work in high-risk settings, such as hospitals or infant and childcare centres, will be issued hospitalisation leave until 21 days after their exposure to the virus.
As for casual, non-close contacts, they will be advised to monitor their symptoms, and to seek medical care should symptoms develop.
Anyone who does not comply with any home isolation or quarantine order issued may be guilty of an offence, and may face imprisonment and/or a fine, if convicted.
CDA also urged medical practitioners to remain vigilant for measles cases, particularly in patients who have recently travelled overseas or who have not been fully vaccinated.
They should notify CDA promptly of any suspect cases.
Importance of vaccination
Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles infection, CDA emphasised.
It explained that measles is highly transmissible among unvaccinated individuals, with the infectious period typically beginning up to four days before and after a rash appears.
It can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in children younger than five years old.
The MMR vaccine is highly effective and safe, and confers long-term immunity after completion of the recommended doses, CDA added.
Parents are reminded to ensure young children receive the two mandatory doses of MMR vaccine when they are 12 and 15 months old.
MMR vaccination is available at polyclinics, general practitioner (GP) clinics, and private paediatric clinics.
As a result of the mandatory vaccination, 99 per cent of adults in Singapore have immunity against measles, Ong said.
“But if our immunity coverage falls below 95 per cent, we may start losing our herd immunity,” he added.
To maintain this immunity and prevent community transmission, CDA will continue to monitor Singapore’s measles situation and adjust its public health measures as it evolves.
Top images from Ong Ye Kung’s Facebook and CDA’s website
