By RACHEL CHAN

THE Singapore Management University yesterday defended its decision to allow 20 of its students to leave for a New York study trip recently.

Its defence came after one of them, a 22-year-old business management undergraduate, became Singapore's first confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) case upon her return.

Seventeen of the students have extended their US visit.

The case prompted Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, speaking to the media yesterday afternoon, to question if the trip was an "unnecessary risk".

He said: "I do not know actually what the study trip was about. If it's something very essential and time-sensitive, it had to be done. Maybe, that is the reason. I do not know...

"But if you ask me, as a friend, planning a holiday in New York next week, I would ask, 'Why don't you consider some other places?', because it is an unnecessary risk."

When contacted by my paper, an SMU spokesman explained that the spread of H1N1 cases in New York at the time of the students' visit, from May 15 to 24, had been contained and was localised in the borough of Queens.

"This area was not part of their itinerary, neither did the students intend to visit Queens."

Also, the Health Ministry had lowered the alert level from orange to yellow, and the flu appeared to be mild, she added.

"Students in the New York Business Study Mission had the option not to go on the trip. Provisions would be made to adjust the grades for the course for those who decided not to embark on the trip," she said.

As an added precaution, they were given N95 masks and a personal thermometer with which to take their temperature daily during their stay in New York.

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