HFMD: 10 early childhood education centres ordered to close in Penang

GEORGE TOWN, July 6 (Bernama) -- Ten early childhood education (ECE) centres in Penang have been ordered to close for 10 days since last week following an increase in the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases in the state.

Penang Health Director Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said five of the ECE centres ordered to close were here in George Town and the other five were in Butterworth.

"Between early January and July 4, a total of 45 ECE centres (including the 10) were ordered to close temporarily due to HFMD. The number of HFMD cases had been on the rise over the past two weeks, so we have taken immediate action to inspect the centres involved.

"The temporary closure was ordered to enable the operators to carry out cleaning work in their premises and to ensure that other children will not be infected," he told Bernama when contacted here today.

Earlier, State Health, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Afif Bahardin said that a total of 1,555 cases of HFMD had been reported in Penang between January and July 4 this year, an increase of of 48 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Afif said during the same period, a total of 53 ECE centres, including nurseries, kindergartens and pre-schools, had reported HFMD cluster cases at their premises, which is an increase of 381 per cent from only 11 cluster cases reported in the corresponding period last year.

HFMD is a contagious disease caused by viruses in particular Coxsackie A16 and Enterovirus 71 (EV71) which spread by contact with saliva, blister fluid or faeces.

The symptoms of infection include fever, rash (maculopapular and vesicles) in the palms, feet and ulcers in the mouth and tongue, as well as symptoms and signs of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).

-- BERNAMA