• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental urged the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to further intensify its prevention and control measures against hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).
Third District Board Member Hope Marey Depasucat, in a resolution unanimously approved during the regular session on Tuesday, stressed the need to intensify and strengthen further the efforts for HFMD monitoring, prevention programs, training and emergency response activities.
Negros Occidental reported 828 cases of HFMD this year, affecting mostly children aged one year to 10 years.
The figure is 246.44 percent higher than the 239 cases reported during the same period last year, data from the PHO showed.
“Our school year has just opened and with the nature of HFMD on how it is transmitted, it poses a danger to public health, especially our children,” Depasucat said.
HFMD is a common illness that usually causes fever, mouth sores and skin rashes. It can spread quickly in schools and daycare centers. Most patients heal on their own within seven to 10 days.
While symptoms may include fever, sore throat, mouth blisters and rashes in the hands and feet, complications from HFMD are rare, according to health authorities. | GB
