Pondering Statistical Genomics,
H1N1 Flu, and Quarantined
Life in Singapore
Terry Speed, University of California
I
arrived in Singapore from my talk the next morning and That was slightly disconcerting
Melbourne, Australia, late on having more follow-up discus- on the first night, as I thought it
a Sunday, looking forward to sions—including ones with peo- might be a large animal (a tiger?)
a week’s participation in the ple from the Genome Institute looking for people who had left
Statistical Genomics program at of Singapore. their rooms. But no, it was just a
the Institute for Mathematical I went out again for dinner bullfrog looking for a mate.
Sciences of the National that night and then back to my I am LT4/2, in Terrace 4,
University of Singapore. Not hotel early to work on my talk. which consists of four single
incidentally, Melbourne might A message awaited me: “Will rooms, a small courtyard, a com-
have been the H1N1 flu capital Professor Speed please phone munal kitchen, and a lounge with
Speed
of the world at that time, certain- Mdm L at the MOH?” I did, TV that I was advised not to use.
ly of Australia. Before the first and she had lots of advice for me: Through the lounge window is a
lecture on Monday morning, a Don’t leave my room, don’t give barbecue area, strip of grass, and
slide was put up asking all people my lecture, await further advice the sea. I can gaze through the
who were in specified rows on from a representative of the min- window at the sea, but only at
specified flights into Singapore to istry. While stressing that this was the risk of being caught outside
contact the Ministry of Health just advice, it was made clear that my room.
(MOH). Someone in the middle as soon as the representative from Material intended for those
of those sets of rows had presum- the MOH arrived, this advice of us in Terrace 4—including
ably tested positive for H1N1 flu, would turn into orders under the meals, towels, etc.—is placed on
and contacts were being traced. Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter a table outside the terrace door by
My flight was there, but not my 137). So, I took the lady’s advice, face-masked carriers. Three times
row. Phew! I’d dodged the bullet. stayed in my room, and went a day, we put on our masks, go
There were four terrific lectures with the people who came to take out to get what was brought for
that day, several lively discussions, me away to Aloha Loyang the us, and then retreat to our rooms
and a pleasant riverside meal next morning. once more.
that evening. The first pick-up of the day
Just before the first lecture the
Welcome to Aloha
is the best, containing the Straits
next morning, another H1N1 Aloha, a resort of 38 holiday Times, a 1.5-liter bottle of water,
slide went up. This one high- bungalows and terrace houses for assorted tea bags, coffee powders,
lighted a new flight and new rows civil servants, has been set aside biscuits, and new face masks. I
on old flights, including mine, to quarantine people—mainly stuck with my first mask, which
but not my row. Again, a sigh foreigners—who may have been has four ribbons to tie together
of relief. I didn’t think it then, exposed to the new flu strain, behind my head, so my collec-
but two times lucky should have according to the May 29, 2009, tion now numbers 14 new masks.
made me cautious. Once more, edition of Straits Times. The resort I haven’t yet learned how to tell
the day saw four terrific lectures is on the northeast coast, just near when a face mask is worn out or
and some excellent discussions. I Changi Airport. Occasionally, we otherwise past its prime. I wish
was really getting into the work- are treated to a foghorn-like sound I had, as I’m looking forward to
shop, looking forward to giving blaring loudly every few seconds. wearing the nifty kind that hook
AUGUST 2009 AmstAt News 9
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