More HFMD cases in Sarawak
Published: Apr 7, 2006 6:59 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Another 84 new cases of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has been reported in Sarawak, with two children from Kapit were flown to the Sibu hospital for treatment.
Even as the HFMD outbreak continues in Sarawak, the state government has lifted a ban on pre-schools effective on Monday.
Another 84 new cases of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has been reported in Sarawak, with two children from Kapit were flown to the Sibu hospital for treatment.
One of the children was a five-month-old boy from Rh Jampang while the other, a two-year-old boy, was from Rh Pius in Nanga Merit.
"They are not seriously ill but were referred to specialists in Sibu for further management of persistent fever after they were evacuated by air by a medical team on standby," said Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan according to Bernama.
The latest development brings the total number of children diagnosed with the disease in the state to 8,117. The outbreak has already claimed nine lives.
Chan, who is also state disaster and relief management committee chairperson, also said 33 new HFMD related admissions were reported today.
In contrast, there were only 20 similar admissions yesterday, bringing the cumulative admissions to 1,427 since the outbreak was first detected in Sibu in February.
Yesterday, however, the Sarawak Health Department said it would not order any more kindergartens and childcare centres to shut down as the spread of HFMD had been contained.
It said its 'Active Surveillance Team' had also not detected any new signs of the disease among children, who are expected to resume pre-school on Monday.
HFMD is caused by moderately contagious enteroviruses, of which infants and children are more prone to infection. Symptoms include sudden high fever and rashes within the oral cavities.
One of the children was a five-month-old boy from Rh Jampang while the other, a two-year-old boy, was from Rh Pius in Nanga Merit.
"They are not seriously ill but were referred to specialists in Sibu for further management of persistent fever after they were evacuated by air by a medical team on standby," said Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan according to Bernama.
The latest development brings the total number of children diagnosed with the disease in the state to 8,117. The outbreak has already claimed nine lives. Chan, who is also state disaster and relief management committee chairperson, also said 33 new HFMD related admissions were reported today.
In contrast, there were only 20 similar admissions yesterday, bringing the cumulative admissions to 1,427 since the outbreak was first detected in Sibu in February.
Yesterday, however, the Sarawak Health Department said it would not order any more kindergartens and childcare centres to shut down as the spread of HFMD had been contained.
It said its 'Active Surveillance Team' had also not detected any new signs of the disease among children, who are expected to resume pre-school on Monday.
HFMD is caused by moderately contagious enteroviruses, of which infants and children are more prone to infection. Symptoms include sudden high fever and rashes within the oral cavities.
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