A teacher doing a stringent check on preschoolers for symptoms of HFMD.
SIBU: An outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) has been declared in the state, with the Health Department beefing up efforts to curb the spread of the contagious disease.
In confirming this yesterday, Sarawak health director Datu Dr Zulkifli said most of the cases occurred in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
Kuching district had the highest cumulative cases at 787, followed by Miri (672) and Sibu (663), he disclosed.
Until early March this year, he said, 631 cases of HFMD were recorded while the cumulative figure for Sarawak stood at 3,631 thus far.
“The HFMD situation in Sarawak is stable and under control and the department is mounting efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
“HFMD is said to be at the outbreak level in the state if there are 365 cases reported per week for the state,” Dr Zulkifli told The Borneo Post.
He said this when asked the total number of cases for a place to be declared HFMD outbreak area.
He also disclosed that there was no new strain of EV-71 in HFMD detected so far this year in the state.
He attributed the bigger population in Kuching, Miri and Sibu as among the causative factors for the higher cases recorded in these places.
Meanwhile, he stressed it is imperative for teachers in nurseries and kindergartens to monitor entry at the gates to prevent sick pre-schoolers from entering the classroom.
“Teachers also need to check the children for symptoms of HFMD and have the classrooms cleaned daily.”
Among the symptoms of HFMD are fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers on the inside of the mouth or sides of the tongue, rash (flat or raised spots) or small blisters on palms of hands, soles of feet, and/or buttocks, lethargy and poor appetite.
He reiterated that parents seek immediate medical attention for their child if she or he exhibits any of these symptoms.
Meanwhile, the person-in-charge of a kindergarten here, Yii Yiew Yieng, said they had been advised by the department to take precautionary measures against HFMD since the start of the year.
Yii assured that they carry out stringent checks on every preschooler before allowing them into the class and would notify parents if their children display HFMD symptoms.
“We then ask their parents to seek immediate medical attention for them,” she added.
Yii said they would intensify checks if they detect symptoms of HFMD among their pupils.
“Since 2000, our teachers have been taking stringent measures to keep the disease at bay.
“They will ask children to open their mouth, including checking palms for HFMD symptoms,” she added.
Meanwhile, Dr Zulkifli said no preschools in the state were closed thus far this year due to HFMD.