HFMD: 232 suspected cases among Davao students

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 232 suspected cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among students in Davao City have been recorded, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

Dr. Ritchelle Aresco, medical officer of DepEd- Davao City health and nutrition section, said two teaching and non-teaching personnel were also suspected to have contracted HFMD.

The DepEd regional office has called a meeting to discuss the implementation of health protocols to prevent the spread of the disease.

School nurses were told to immediately report possible HFMD cases, especially if symptoms such as rashes on the hands, feet and mouth as well as fever and canker sores were observed.

DepEd said distance and modular learning should be implemented in schools where there are suspected HFMD cases. These schools should be disinfected for a week, it added.

Suspected cases should be referred to health centers as school clinics cannot diagnose HFMD cases, DepEd said.

The department has coordinated with the city epidemiology surveillance unit of the city health office on the reporting of cases.

Parents were advised to check and isolate their children with symptoms of HFMD for seven days.

The Department of Health-Davao regional office logged 386 HFMD cases with zero deaths from Jan. 1 to 23.

Davao de Oro recorded 110 cases; Davao del Norte, 94; Davao City, 92; Davao Occidental, 77, and Davao del Sur, nine. Patients are aged zero to nine.