- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) continue to rise in Bacolod, with 101 infections logged in the first seven weeks of this year, and mostly affecting children, the City Health Office said Feb. 27.
Barangay Handumanan topped the list with 20 cases, Villamonte with 18, Vista Alegre 10, Bata with six cases, five each in Banago, Estefania, and Pahanocoy, four each in Singcang and Alijis, and three cases each in Mansilingan, Mandalagan, Taculing, and Tangub, Dr. Grace Tan of the CHO Environmental Sanitation Division said.
Eighty-eight of these cases were children one to 10 years old, and eight infections logged among kids below one-year-old, Tan added.
“HFMD is a mild and common but highly-contagious childhood infection,” she said, adding that to prevent or control potential outbreaks, it is important to keep an infected child or person at home to avoid transmission, avoid the sharing of items, and to wash hands, especially after touching an infected person or body fluids.
The CHO continues to monitor cases in the community, Tan said, adding that the Department of Education is also monitoring the clustering of cases in schools for necessary measures to control and prevent the further spread of HFMD.
Intensified campaign is being done by healthcare workers in schools, malls, playgrounds, and barangays to encourage individual responsibility and involvement in the HFMD prevention and control, the CHO said./CGC
