Four children infected with HFMD get hospital treatment

GEORGE TOWN, July 9 (Bernama) -- Four children who have been infected with the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Penang are getting hospital medical treatment, said Penang Health Director  Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah.



He said three of the children are being treated at the Penang Hospital while the fourth at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. All are aged between two and 10 years.



"Their conditions are stable and we at the State Health Department have taken immediate measures to control the disease including conducting checks in nurseries and kindergartens."



"Members of the public do not have to be worried as the HFMD situation in Penang is still under control, but we only hope that parents will get immediate treatment if their children show symptoms of the disease," he told Bernama here today.



Dr Wan Mansor said so far, 15 facilities, including 10 nurseries, two kindergartens and classes which involved a national school and an international school as well as a day-care centre have been closed for 10 days for the cleaning process after they were found to have HFMD infections on their premises.



He added that from January until today,  1,675 HFMD cases have been reported, a 56.7-per-cent increase from the 1,069 cases reported during the same period last year.



"After the media reports last Friday on the increase in HFMD cases, we received 120 new cases within three days as parents immediately brought their children over," he said.



Meanwhile, a Bernama visit to a kindergarten which was instructed closed in Butterworth after its students were found to have HFMD, found its workers cleaning the premises.



A worker who only wanted to be known as Liew, in the 40s, said the kindergarten has been closed for two days after three children were found to have HFMD.



"We mopped the floor, cleaned the equipment and toys with special cleaner to ensure that they are free of any virus," Liew said.



HFMD is a viral infection with symptoms like fever, rashes on the palms and soles, as well as ulcers in the mouth and tongue, with upper respiratory tract infection.



-- BERNAMA