Latest figures from the Ministry of Health show 815 new cases last week, up from the some 690 cases the previous week.
This brings the total number of cases this year to 3,457.
A childcare centre in Bedok -- Sunflower Childcare -- has had a few cases of HFMD over the past few days.
This got some parents concerned.
But most parents Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they are confident of the precautionary measures the childcare centre has in place.
So far, the Ministry of Health has identified five childcare centres with more than 10 HFMD cases and a transmission period of more than 16 days, as of February 22.
Childcare centres and kindergartens with more than 16 cases must be closed for 10 days.
Pat's Schoolhouse in Lim Ah Pin Road near Upper Serangoon is currently closed from 15 February 2012 to 24 February 2012.
Hui Clinic & Surgery family physician John Hui said he has seen at least 10 to 20 HFMD cases this month, a marked increase from what he saw in January.
"The coxsackieviruses as well as the other family of enteroviruses: Generally speaking, the [viruses] are very mild and self-limiting and the children, generally speaking, will recover by themselves," Dr Hui said.
"But in the past, there were some episodes when some children who were infected with the EV71 had more severe symptoms and some of them even died from the severity of the illness."
Doctors are advising parents to ensure their children practise personal hygiene by washing hands frequently and not sharing utensils and stationery.
No comments:
Post a Comment