HFMD IN SARAWAK AT "OUTBREAK" LEVEL

-PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH HFMD SYMPTOMS NOT TO SEND THEM TO SCHOOL TO PREVENT THE DISEASE FROM SPREADING TO OTHER STUDENTS-

HASAN

THE people in Sarawak, especially parents are advised to take extra percaution on their children's hygiene-aspects as the state's total cases of Hands, Foot Mouth and Disease (HFMD) is currently had reached the "outbreak" level.

Ministry of Health Director General Dato' Sri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said this adding that the parents should also play their role assisting the government in confining and minimising the HFMD cases by being pro-active in monitoring their children's personal hygiene. 

"The total of HFMD cases reported across Sarawak last week is 460 cases and this is "not very good" situation therefore, the parents and teachers, must work together helping the government in preventing the situation to become even worse."

Hasan revealed that currently 6,678 HFMD cases had been reported across Malaysia and alarmingly, almost 50 per cent of the reported cases (3,144 cases) had occurred in Sarawak followed by Selangor (940), Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (495), Kelantan (388), Sabah (277),Johor (265), Pulau Pinang (246), Negeri Sembilan (199), Perak (180), Kedah (151), Melaka (144), Terengganu (106), Pahang (55) and Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan having the less cases (40).

Advising that the parents of the children having HFMD symptoms to bring their children straight to the nearest hospitals or clinics, Hasan also urged them not to continue sending their children to nurseries and kindagartens although after being given treatment or medication.

"Just follow this simpleStandard Operating Procedure (SOP) where if their children are sick, please don't send them to school but instead the parents should confine their children with HFMD symptoms at home to curb the disease from spreading to others," he said.

Hasan told this to reporters during at a press conference after attending a discussion with State Health Department Dircetor Dr Zulkifli Jantan and other health officers relating on HFMD at the Pesona Hall at Sarawak General Hospital here near the city here earlier this afternoon.

Hasan also reminded the parents and teacher could help the health authority in stopping further spread of the disease by carrying out daily health screening on their children or students.

"A study carried out by the Health Department so far had revealed that the HFMD had started from dwellers in houses who do not practiced hygiene and cleanliness," said Hasan.

"Usually, HFMD normally occurred among children aged 10 years old and below however, majority of the cases recorded in the current outbreak in Sarawak here involved children aged five years and below."

He then added that although HFMD is considered as a mild disease, it could easily spread into an outbreak level and deaths normally occurred on children who suffered dehydration due to the disease.

"In 1997 where we first encountered HFMD, 29 deaths had occurred and since then our Ministry had been more prepared to face the outbreak," he said.

-UnReportedNews™®