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More HFMD cases despite efforts to curb epidemic
Ng Jing Yng
SINGAPORE - The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases continued to rise unabated with last week witnessing a 14 per cent spike, even as efforts have been stepped up to curb the current epidemic.
Latest statistics from the Health Ministry (MOH) showed that the number of cases rose to 1,590 during the last week of April, breaking the four-year high of 1,394 cases seen in the previous week.
Medical professionals Today spoke to felt that the spike in disease transmission could be due to a lack of vigilance among parents and good personal hygiene habits not being practiced.
=> Blame SGs again. What's new?
Dr Kevin Chua of Drs Chua and Partners, said: "Some parents may be eager to send their children back to school before the 10-day quarantine is up as their child appears healthy. But the virus may still be active and this is when transmission can occur."
With many households now having both parents working, Dr Chua also noted that parents are also challenged to make last-minute care arrangements when HFMD strikes.
=> Sorry state of SGs being trapped in rat race as the $$$Million ministars play golf and thinking of more ways to replace them with foreigners.
Freelance writer Yan Shu Yen, whose five-year-old daughter caught HFMD two months ago, felt employers could be more understanding towards parents who have to take urgent leave during the quarantine period.
She said: "Some parents don't have the luxury of doing that since both are working full time, and their bosses might not be so sympathetic to their situation (but) they may not have anyone to help take care of their children when they go back to work, and have no choice but to send their children back to childcare."
=> The fear of being replaced by Foreigners if they are abesent from work?
Dr Tan Tze Lee of Edinburgh Clinic suggested more public messages on hand hygiene that would help prevent the disease from spreading further.
Families' hectic pace of life may also cause parents to overlook the need to wash their children's hands regularly, but Dr Tan pointed out this is when the HFMD virus is transmitted.
"The usual hygiene and disinfection practices must continue, but parents and pre-school operators need to step up on hand hygiene to prevent further transmissions," he said.
A MOH spokesperson said inspections have been intensified at pre-schools and spot-checks will be done at enrichment centres. Noting that the reported HFMD cases so far have been mild, the MOH spokesperson added high standards of hygiene are also being reinforced in primary schools and childcare centres.
The Health Promotion Board, which has been reminding the public on spotting HFMD symptoms through media advertisements and text messages, will also be launching educational campaigns on how the spread of HFMD can be controlled.
For pre-school operators like Just Kids Learning Place (Bukit Batok Centre), its principal Lurvine Lee felt that the "real problem is when a child has siblings down with HFMD and some parents still bring the child to school".
Pat's Schoolhouse founder Patricia Koh agreed that there are parents who are anxious to have their children back at school after being quarantined for HFMD. To assure parents that their child will not fall behind the curriculum, she said that the school will provide homework packs or schedule make-up lessons.
Ng Jing Yng
SINGAPORE - The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases continued to rise unabated with last week witnessing a 14 per cent spike, even as efforts have been stepped up to curb the current epidemic.
Latest statistics from the Health Ministry (MOH) showed that the number of cases rose to 1,590 during the last week of April, breaking the four-year high of 1,394 cases seen in the previous week.
Medical professionals Today spoke to felt that the spike in disease transmission could be due to a lack of vigilance among parents and good personal hygiene habits not being practiced.
=> Blame SGs again. What's new?
Dr Kevin Chua of Drs Chua and Partners, said: "Some parents may be eager to send their children back to school before the 10-day quarantine is up as their child appears healthy. But the virus may still be active and this is when transmission can occur."
With many households now having both parents working, Dr Chua also noted that parents are also challenged to make last-minute care arrangements when HFMD strikes.
=> Sorry state of SGs being trapped in rat race as the $$$Million ministars play golf and thinking of more ways to replace them with foreigners.
Freelance writer Yan Shu Yen, whose five-year-old daughter caught HFMD two months ago, felt employers could be more understanding towards parents who have to take urgent leave during the quarantine period.
She said: "Some parents don't have the luxury of doing that since both are working full time, and their bosses might not be so sympathetic to their situation (but) they may not have anyone to help take care of their children when they go back to work, and have no choice but to send their children back to childcare."
=> The fear of being replaced by Foreigners if they are abesent from work?
Dr Tan Tze Lee of Edinburgh Clinic suggested more public messages on hand hygiene that would help prevent the disease from spreading further.
Families' hectic pace of life may also cause parents to overlook the need to wash their children's hands regularly, but Dr Tan pointed out this is when the HFMD virus is transmitted.
"The usual hygiene and disinfection practices must continue, but parents and pre-school operators need to step up on hand hygiene to prevent further transmissions," he said.
A MOH spokesperson said inspections have been intensified at pre-schools and spot-checks will be done at enrichment centres. Noting that the reported HFMD cases so far have been mild, the MOH spokesperson added high standards of hygiene are also being reinforced in primary schools and childcare centres.
The Health Promotion Board, which has been reminding the public on spotting HFMD symptoms through media advertisements and text messages, will also be launching educational campaigns on how the spread of HFMD can be controlled.
For pre-school operators like Just Kids Learning Place (Bukit Batok Centre), its principal Lurvine Lee felt that the "real problem is when a child has siblings down with HFMD and some parents still bring the child to school".
Pat's Schoolhouse founder Patricia Koh agreed that there are parents who are anxious to have their children back at school after being quarantined for HFMD. To assure parents that their child will not fall behind the curriculum, she said that the school will provide homework packs or schedule make-up lessons.
