HFMD: No necessity for intervention

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- There is no intention to close all schools nationwide to control the spread of the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in the country although there is an increase in the number of cases, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad today.



On the other hand, he advised the people, especially operators of child nurseries, kindergartens and preschools to adopt preventive measures.



Statistics on HFMD cases had increased to 40,198 cases today compared with 39,408 cases on July 29.



So far, there is no necessity to close the schools throughout the country or to implement any intervention, he told reporters after visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), here today.



Dzulkefly was asked by reporters whether the Health Ministry would order the closure of all schools nationwide in view of the increasing number of HFMD cases.



He also disclosed that nine schools were still ordered closed of which seven were in Sabah while one each in Penang and Pahang.



In Sabah, he said, there were 2,200 cases recorded today, an increase from 2,195 cases yesterday involving Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Sandakan, Tawau and Penampang.



Meanwhile, asked on the case of sexual harassment by the head of the orthopedic department of a hospital in the Klang Valley, Dr Dzulkefly declined to disclose the profile of the suspect so as not to disturb the investigation process.



He also called on the media not to play up the issue and to give space to his ministry to investigate the matter thoroughly.



An English language daily reported on July 29 that the head of the department concerned had targeted female housemen and threaten to fail their medical training if they don't meet his request.



In TAWAU, the Health Department here recorded 129 cases of the head, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in the district involving children at the preschools and primary schools.



Tawau Health Officer, Dr G Navindran said the cases were first detected in January until July this year and increased markedly over the last two weeks.



"To date, eight child nurseries in Tawau had been ordered closed and a classroom at a primary school here was closed after the source of the infection had been detected," he said when approached by reporters at his office at the District Health Office, here today.



-- BERNAMA