Singapore on verge of hand, foot and mouth outbreak

DerekLeung

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Aug 25, 2008

• #1

Singapore on verge of hand, foot and mouth outbreak

August 22, 2008

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is on the verge of a hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak, the Straits Times reported on Saturday, quoting government health officials.
The paper said 553 people were afflicted with the virus last week, up from 415 the week before. Last week's figure was just 12 fewer than the Health Ministry's official "epidemic level."
Hand, foot and mouth disease, which is treatable, usually affects children and causes fever and rashes on the hands, feet and buttocks. A three-year child died earlier this month in the city-state.
The disease has this year killed 44 people in China, 10 in Taiwan and 11 in Vietnam.(Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

 

N

NasiAyam

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Aug 25, 2008

• #2

This is bad.

How come lately so many diseases outbreak ?

 

DerekLeung

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Aug 25, 2008

• #3

Parents trust centres despite HFMD fears


Mon, Aug 25, 2008
my paper



DESPITE reports that Singapore is on the verge of a hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak, some parents say it is unlikely that they would pull out their children from childcare centres anytime soon.

Parents who spoke to my paper yesterday said they trusted the centres to do the necessary checks on children, keep their premises clean and inform them of any new cases.

Several centres contacted yesterday also said it will be business as usual this week, and that no parents have pulled out their children so far.

The Straits Times reported last Saturday that 553 people came down with HFMD two weeks ago, just 12 fewer than the Health Ministry's official "epidemic level".

However, property consultant Noel Chan, 23, said she will continue to send her daughter, Lewayne - who turns three in November - to the Kinderland childcare centre in Marine Parade.

Said Ms Chan: "I am concerned, but I won't take her out because I believe the centre is quite good in handling HFMD cases. I don't see the need to keep her at home and not let her go out. That's too much."

Civil servant H.Y. Chen, 33, sends his five-year-old daughter, Erin, to a childcare centre in Toa Payoh, and receives circulars and e-mail messages on how many cases there are, and what steps have been taken to clean up.

He said: "There is no need to pull her out now, because there have been no cases. But if the numbers go up, I will consider it."

Housewife Lynette Yeo, 26, was unfortunate to have her elder son, seven-year-old Justine, contract HFMD twice from separate centres, when he was two and four years old respectively. But she does not blame the centres for her son's illness.

In fact, she recommended the second centre to her sister, whose daughter is now there.

Ms Yeo described the teachers as having been very responsible and informative, doing their best to pre-empt parents' fears.

She added: "It's not that the centre did not check, but rather that some of the children could have caught the disease somewhere else."

Childcare centres, meanwhile, said they would continue to carry out strict checks on children - such as taking their temperatures frequently, checking their hands and feet before they enter - on top of other measures such as disinfecting toys.

Said Mr Dan Lee, director of Academy Kidz, an infantcare and childcare centre in Marine Parade: "When children return from their holidays, we ask where they went.

"We also keep an eye out for children with unusual behaviour, and place them in quarantine if need be."

He added: "There's cooperation between parents and the school, so they feel safe taking their kids here, despite the inconvenience caused by our stringent measures."

 

DerekLeung

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Aug 29, 2008

• #4

Updated: 28th August 2008, 1720 hrs
Child recovering from HMFD may not develop full immunity

Children recovering from hand, foot, mouth disease may not necessarily develop full immunity to the condition.

A possible scenario may see the child developing multiple episodes of HFMD if the child is infected with a different strain of the enterovirus causing the condition.

This is because there are about 70 strains of HFMD.

Dr Thoon Koh Cheng, an Associate Consultant in Infectious Diseases at KK Hospital's Pediatrics Department explains.

"Now, as there are so many strains of enteroviruses that cause the same clinical syndrome of hand, foot, mouth disease. Certainly, if you get s single, or rather, if your child is infected with one strain, he/she will develop a certain amount of immunity to that particular strain of enterovirus, and therefore be protected from that same strain in the future. But it still means that you are liable to acquire infection to a different strain and develop hand, foot, mouth disease. And we know from clinical experience, it is possible to get multiple episodes of hand, foot and mouth disease."

In parliament on Monday, Health Minister, Khaw Boon Wan's warned that a second outbreak of HFMD might occur in September.

Citing E-V 71 as the deadly virus causing the surge in this year's HFMD cases, Mr Khaw urged parents to ensure their kids adhere to good hygiene practices, including frequently washing their hands.

Parents should also get infected kids to stay home during the illness and get sufficient rest.

Mr Khaw added that the Ministry of Health had alerted doctors to watch for complications from HFMD.

The last peak took place in April, where there were over one thousand 400 cases a week.

The number has since dropped to around 500 cases a week.

But that's near the epidemic level of 565.

The virus can affect the brain and had caused many of the HFMD deaths during the epidemic seven years ago.

 

S

SIFU

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Aug 29, 2008

• #5

so thats why they rename tekka mall to the 'verge'..