Singapore Flu Cases Are Rising in September 2026: What It Means for Wound, Stoma and Home Care

Flu seasons are usually discussed in terms of vaccination and sick leave. For the people EMIS+ serves every day, patients with open wounds, new stomas, indwelling catheters, and caregivers running a home care routine, a rise in respiratory infections changes something more ordinary. It changes who is well enough to do the dressing change, how safe the household is for someone whose immune system is already busy, and whether the supplies you need are within reach on a bad week.

This guide sets out what the September 2026 advisory actually said, and what it means in practice for wound, ostomy and home care in Singapore. It is general information, not medical advice for your situation.

What did MOH say about influenza in September 2026?

The advisory issued on 4 September 2026 by MOH and the Communicable Diseases Agency made several specific points:

• Influenza activity in Singapore has increased.
• There is no indication that the infections are more severe than usual.
• People at higher risk of severe influenza who have not already received the 2026 southern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine are encouraged to receive it.
• The higher-risk groups named are seniors aged 65 and above, children aged six months to under five years, and other vulnerable groups with underlying medical conditions.
• The 2026 to 2027 northern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccines are expected to be available locally across public and private healthcare providers in early to mid October 2026, roughly two weeks later than usual, because of an industry-wide delay in developing them.
• Where someone receives the southern hemisphere vaccine now and the northern hemisphere vaccine later, MOH states a minimum interval of eight weeks between doses.

Two things are worth separating here. The first is the epidemiology, which is that cases are up but severity is not unusual. The second is the supply timing, which is that the vaccine many people would normally receive in early October arrives slightly later this year. For a caregiver, the second point matters more than the first, because it means a short window where a vulnerable person may be unvaccinated while transmission is higher.

Whether the flu vaccine is appropriate for you or the person you care for, and which one to have and when, is a decision for your doctor, your polyclinic, or your Healthier SG family physician. Vaccination is available through polyclinics, GP clinics and private providers. EMIS+ does not supply or administer vaccines.

Why does a flu wave matter more if you are healing a wound?

A healing wound is a competing demand on the body. Fever, poor appetite, reduced fluid intake and several days in bed are common with influenza, and each of them works against wound healing rather than with it.

The practical risks during a household flu episode are these:

• Dressing changes get delayed or skipped. When the person who normally does the dressing change is unwell, the interval stretches. A dressing left on too long can become saturated, and saturated dressings put the surrounding skin at risk.
• Nutrition and hydration drop. Protein and fluid intake often fall sharply during a febrile illness. Our guide on the 5 nutrients that help wounds heal explains why protein, vitamin C, zinc and adequate fluids matter during the repair phase.
• Hand hygiene slips at exactly the wrong moment. Someone with a respiratory infection who then handles a dressing without cleaning their hands properly introduces avoidable risk.
• Foot checks stop. For people with diabetes, a week of illness is a week of missed daily foot inspection. Our diabetic foot care at home guide covers what that daily check should include.

None of this means a wound will fail because someone in the house has flu. It means the routine needs a deliberate plan for the week, rather than being left to whoever feels well enough.

What should ostomy and stoma patients watch for?

For people living with a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy, the main flu-related issues are fluid balance and pouch security.

Fever, sweating and reduced drinking all reduce fluid intake at a time when output may be unchanged or higher. Ileostomy output in particular is already high in fluid and electrolytes, so a person with an ileostomy who develops a fever and stops drinking normally can become dehydrated faster than someone without a stoma. Signs to raise with your stoma care nurse or doctor include markedly reduced urine, persistent dizziness on standing, unusual lethargy, or output that changes sharply in volume or consistency.

The second issue is adhesion. Sweating during a fever, and more frequent position changes in bed, can shorten wear time. Barrier rings, adhesive removers and skin barrier sprays help maintain a reliable seal, but the fundamental point is fit. If the baseplate aperture no longer matches the stoma, sweating will expose that gap quickly. If you are unsure about sizing or reference codes, our where to buy ostomy supplies in Singapore guide covers how the ranges compare, and the EMIS+ team can help match a reference code against the box you already have.

Should I still have my home nursing visit if someone at home has flu?

Tell the provider before the visit rather than cancelling silently. Most home care teams would rather know that a household member is unwell so that they can bring appropriate protective equipment, adjust the order of their visits that day, or reschedule if the visit is not time critical.

What matters is that clinically necessary care is not quietly dropped. A wound that needs assessment, a catheter that is due for a change, or a stoma complication does not become less urgent because someone in the house has a respiratory infection. If you are on a hospital-at-home programme, our guide to MIC@Home and hospital-at-home care explains how these arrangements work in Singapore and what to keep stocked at home.

Home care in Singapore is delivered by a mix of hospital-linked services from institutions such as Singapore General Hospital (SGH), National University Hospital (NUH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Changi General Hospital (CGH), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and private providers including Mount Elizabeth. Each has its own policy on visiting a household with an active respiratory infection, so ask yours directly.

How do I protect a vulnerable person at home during a flu wave?

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and MOH advice for the general public applies here, with a few additions that matter specifically for wound and stoma care:

• Separate the sick person from the care routine. If a household member has respiratory symptoms, someone else should perform dressing changes or pouch changes where that is possible.
• Mask during close care tasks. If the only available caregiver is the one who is unwell, a surgical mask plus thorough hand hygiene before touching supplies is the minimum.
• Clean hands properly, not quickly. Alcohol-based hand rub is effective when hands are not visibly soiled, and our article on 85% ethanol hand sanitiser and infection control covers why concentration and contact time both matter.
• Keep the supply area clean and separate. Dressings and ostomy supplies should not be stored where someone is coughing over them.
• Do not stop scheduled care. Skin checks, peristomal skin inspection and catheter care all continue.

If the person you care for uses an indwelling catheter, the usual infection prevention steps become more important during a period of illness, not less. Our guide on indwelling catheter care and lowering urinary infection risk sets out drainage bag positioning, hygiene and the signs that need review.

What should I keep stocked at home?

The single most useful preparation is having enough consumables that a week of illness in the household does not create a supply emergency. A practical minimum for most people is two weeks of routine supplies, held in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight.

For wound care that typically means primary and secondary dressings in the sizes actually in use, saline or the cleansing solution your nurse has specified, and skin barrier products if the surrounding skin is fragile. For ostomy care it means pouches and baseplates in the current size, plus barrier rings, adhesive remover and skin barrier film. For continence care it means enough absorbent products that no one is stretching a change interval, since prolonged skin exposure to urine or stool is what drives incontinence-associated dermatitis.

Check expiry dates while you are doing this. Sterile products have a stated shelf life for a reason, and a box found at the back of a cupboard is worth checking before it is needed urgently.

When should I contact a doctor or go to hospital?

Seek medical review promptly rather than waiting if you notice:

• Breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, or persistent high fever.
• Signs of dehydration, particularly in someone with an ileostomy or urostomy.
• A wound that becomes more painful, more exudative, or develops spreading redness, warmth or an unusual odour.
• Peristomal skin that is broken, weeping, or that will no longer hold a seal.
• Fever in someone with a catheter, a central line, or a surgical wound.

Do not delay care for a wound, a stoma complication or a suspected infection because you are worried about attending a clinic during a flu wave. Untreated infection is the larger risk. Call your care team, your polyclinic, or the hospital service that follows you, and ask what they would like you to do.

Frequently asked questions

Is the current influenza increase in Singapore more dangerous than usual?

According to the MOH and Communicable Diseases Agency advisory of 4 September 2026, influenza cases have increased but there is no indication that the infections are more severe than usual. That advisory remains the authoritative source, and you should check the MOH newsroom for any update.

Should I get the flu vaccine now or wait for the northern hemisphere one in October 2026?

MOH encourages higher-risk individuals who have not received the 2026 southern hemisphere vaccine to receive it now rather than wait, with the 2026 to 2027 northern hemisphere vaccine expected in early to mid October 2026. Where both are given, MOH states a minimum interval of eight weeks between doses. Which applies to you is a clinical decision, so please ask your doctor, polyclinic or Healthier SG family physician. EMIS+ does not supply or administer vaccines.

Can I do a dressing change if I have flu symptoms?

Where another well person can do it, that is preferable. If you must do it yourself, wear a surgical mask, perform thorough hand hygiene immediately before handling supplies, and avoid coughing over the dressing field. Ask your wound care nurse for guidance specific to the wound you are managing.

Does having a stoma make influenza more dangerous?

Having a stoma is not by itself a reason to expect more severe influenza. The practical concern is dehydration, because fever and reduced drinking combine with ongoing stoma output, which is a particular consideration for people with an ileostomy. Discuss your individual risk and any vaccination questions with your doctor or stoma care nurse.

How much stock of wound and ostomy supplies should I keep at home?

Around two weeks of routine supplies suits most people, held in a clean dry place and checked for expiry. Keep the sizes and reference codes you actually use rather than substitutes, since fit is what determines whether a seal or a dressing performs as intended.

Where can I buy wound and ostomy supplies in Singapore?

EMIS+ at emis.asia is a Singapore nurse-led medical supply store carrying wound dressings, ostomy products from Coloplast, ConvaTec and Hollister, continence products and home care consumables, with islandwide delivery. Our team can help you match a product reference code, and for clinical decisions we will always refer you back to your doctor or nurse.

This article is general information and does not replace medical advice. Vaccination decisions, wound management and stoma care should be discussed with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Source: Ministry of Health Singapore and Communicable Diseases Agency, "Update on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination", 4 September 2026.