Dr Christina Rundi
KOTA KINABALU: The Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Sabah is still under control.
This was the answer given by the Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi when asked to provide an update on the current situation, given that Sarawak has recorded the state’s first HFMD fatality last week.
“I cannot comment on Sarawak (case),” she said.
But when asked on the situation in Sabah, she said it was under control.
As of July 14, a total of 1,605 cases of HFMD are registered in Sabah.
Dr Christina reported in an earlier statement that Sabah experienced an average of 58 cases of HFMD every week.
However, the number of cases reported in Sabah has dropped by five percent as compared to the same period of last year, she said then.
All districts in Sabah are experiencing cases of HFMD, which affects mainly children 12 years old and below.
To avoid spreading the disease, Dr Christina has advised parents whose children are suspected with the disease to avoid public places including their children’s schools and daycare centres.
They are to bring their infected child / children for medical treatment; properly discard their children’s napkins and to wash their hands with soap and clean water.
The children’s belongings must be washed with chlorine-based liquid, including toilets; and they are also to separate the plates, cups, spoons and forks used by their infected child/children.
The HFMD is caused by several types of viruses that infect children. The virus is spread through contact with the affected person’s saliva, blister and infected stools.
The incubation period for the disease is 35 days and the symptoms of a mild infection are fever, blisters on one’s hands, feet, mouth and tongue.
Most of the HFMD patients are cured without any medical treatment between seven to 10 days.
Nevertheless, children may suffer from serious implications of the disease such as infections to respiratory organs, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite.
Infection of the EV71 virus can cause serious complications such as encephalitis, pulmonary edema and myocarditis, although this seldom occurs.