‘HFMD cases in Sarawak may go up this holiday season’
SIBU: The number of hand, foot and mouth disease ( HFMD) cases in Sarawak may surge during the holiday season due to the larger congregation of people.
The state Health director Dr Jamilah Hashim thus reminded the public to be alert and take precautionary measures by ensuring good hygiene and cleanliness.
She said the number of HFMD cases in the first five months of this year was high.
“It is possible for the number to increase during the holiday season, because more people will be coming back from all over the place.
“There wi l l be greater congregation of people then, there is a possibility that the number of cases will increase,” Dr Jamilah told reporters after accompanying Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee to visit Oya Road Polyclinic here on Tuesday.
“Most of the cases this year were Coxsackie A16 and not the type of virus that causes severe HFMD. So, we are lucky in that sense,” she said.
According to Dr Jamilah, there were children admitted for ulcer in the mouth.
She urged parents and operators of childcare centres to look after the hygiene and cleanliness of their houses as well as of the centres.
Dr Jamilah said one of the most important measures to keep HFMD at bay was hand-washing, especially among parents.
She said adults too could carry the virus. But usually theirs was milder compared to that in children.
She added that parents should practise hand hygiene and to ensure that articles such as toys, appliances or surfaces that are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions were cleaned and disinfected before they were used again.
Parents should consult a doctor early i f their chi ld had fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on the palms, soles or buttocks.
“Children with HFMD should remain at home until all the blisters have dried up. During this period, contact with other chi ldren including siblings should be avoided until the child recovers. The af fected chi ld should not be brought to any public or crowded places,” Dr Jamilah advised.